Lake 12

Issue 12 • January/February 2015

The local interest magazine for West Kirby, Hoylake, Meols and Caldy

Jones & Company Limited • Hoylake Tug-of-War • West Kirby Methodist Church

Happy New Year and welcome to the twelfth issue of The Lake, the local interest magazine for West Kirby, Hoylake, Meols and Caldy.

We would like to thank our readers for your kind comments and to encourage you to keep writing to us with your thoughts and stories.

@lakewirral

We’d also like to thank our advertisers without whom this magazine wouldn’t be possible – we are extremely grateful to them for their continuing support.

The Lake provides local interest and historical stories on a bi-monthly basis and we hope you enjoy it. Please get in touch if there is anything you want to see in future issues, or if you have any stories or pictures of your own that you want to share.

Contact the Editor by email: jon@lakemagazine.co.uk Or by post to: Jon Bion, Editor, The Lake, Royal Standard House, 334 New Chester Road, Rock Ferry, Wirral CH42 1LE. Telephone 07796 945745.

Published by: Wirral Advertising Media Ltd, Royal Standard House, 334 New Chester Road, Rock Ferry, Wirral CH42 1LE.

Our team has years of experience in design, production and distribution.

The magazine is delivered door-to-door to 12,500 homes and businesses in the area and copies are available from various outlets.

If you feel that advertising in The Lake would benefit your business, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss this with you. Please contact Alan Strange on 07788 510868 or email: alan@lakemagazine.co.uk www.lakemagazine.co.uk

Contacts: Editor Jonathan Bion 07796 945745 jon@lakemagazine.co.uk Sales Director Alan Strange 07788 510868 alan@lakemagazine.co.uk Accounts accounts@lakemagazine.co.uk

Cover image by Matt Thomas Photographs and original material are submitted at the sender’s risk and must be accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope if you wish them to be returned. The publishers will not accept responsibility for loss or damage.

Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published, Wirral Advertising Media can accept no responsibility for the veracity of the claims made by advertisers. Any views expressed in The Lake are not necessarily the views of the publisher.

CONTENTS

Delivered free to 12,500 homes and businesses in West Kirby, Hoylake, Meols and Caldy For distribution queries please call 0151 644 9475

04 Hoylake Tug-of-War

24 Local Wildlife

06 Caldy Railway Station

30 “Look and Feel Great”

08 Jones & Company Limited

32 Stagecoach to Set Tails Wagging

12 A Walk on the Wild Side

33 Wirral Hospice Gala Dinner

14 West Kirby Methodist Church

34 Preparing for University

16 Life Drawing at Melrose Hall

35 Wirral Foodbank

20 West Kirby Sailing Club

36 Under the Gavel

22 Hoylake Lifeboat Museum

38 Fitness Queen

04 The Lake

Hoylake Tug-Of-War Unique Sporting Tradition

By Ryan Ferguson Every Boxing Day for the past 42 years the good folk of Hoylake have gathered along the promenade at midday to watch a unique and fascinating spectacle. Out on the beach, a traditional tug-of-war takes place between assorted squads from the nearby lifeboat station and sailing club, with both sides hoping to raise funds for the RNLI and claim local bragging rights.

In recent years the event has gained in popularity, to the point where crowds in excess of 200 throng the beach, leaning over the promenade, or squelching in the winter sand for a better view of the action.

The annual tug-of-war has become a staple of Christmas in coastal Wirral, with many families relishing the opportunity to walk off the excess turkey and blow away the Yuletide cobwebs by attending the contest, which is always played out in a cheery, cordial and good-natured atmosphere.

Friends and family shout encouragement, RNLI members rattle buckets for muchneeded donations, and interested onlookers chuckle heartily at the geniality of it all.

The sight which brings them here is somewhat remarkable – 16 men, divided into two teams of eight, each tugging exhaustively at a rope, hoping to out-muscle or outlast the other. This is tug-of-war, a recreational pursuit especially popular with the British aristocracy since at least the 16th century. A naturally simple game, requiring little more than a 33-metre rope and a few lines in the sand, the general object of tug-of-war is to manoeuvre a red flag tied to the rope past the nearest of two markers placed 13 feet wide of the central starting point.

The sport has been played for aeons, with evidence even pointing to its popularity in the ancient civilisations of Egypt and India.

In modern times the sport was codified, and featured at the Olympic Games between 1900 and 1920. Nowadays it survives mainly as a means of amateur recreation or, in the case of Hoylake’s lifeboat crew and sailing club, as a means of deciding the strongest, most resilient and superior of two traditional rivals.

Accordingly, on 26th December each year, the teams clash, hell-bent on heaving, yanking and hauling their way to victory.

The contest is usually ‘best of three’, with the winning squad gaining possession of the prized Slater Trophy, a silver teapotlike award, for the subsequent 12 months, in addition to celebratory pints of Guinness, paid for by the losers.

While details as to the origins of the event are decidedly sketchy, a general consensus holds that it was born out of a desire to improve cash flow at the local RNLI, which for a long time provided its sterling service without the benefit of significant revenue.

The resultant tug-of-war, staged as a fun local event, was first contested in 1972, and has been a unique fixture on the Hoylake calendar ever since. In contemporary times, the participants decided to spice up the competition, attempting different events, such as a football match in wading boots and a mock rowing race, to draw further public interest, before the conventional tug-of-war returned in 2000.

The bond between lifeboat station and sailing club extends as far back as the 19th century. The former, one of the oldest such establishments in Britain, was founded in 1803, while the latter came into existence in 1887. Owing to a shared geography and common passion for maritime adventure, the two organisations have been forever intertwined. Accordingly, in addition to being a modern day money-spinner, the annual tug-of-war is a special manifestation of that close relationship, standing as a testament to mutual admiration even as men fight to the proverbial death.

In recent years, the lifeboat station has typically emerged victorious. For instance, this past Boxing Day, the RNLI team, sporting their eminently recognisable uniforms in contrast to the sailing club bedecked in assorted Christmas hats, claimed the spoils following an intense battle, ensuring the coveted Slater Trophy remains in their possession for a second consecutive year.

However, in 12 months time, it will be taken from the mantelpiece and put on the line once again. The crowds will gather once more, hooting and hollering their adopted team towards victory. The collection buckets will be filled anew, enriching the coffers of a charity that saves lives. And one of Wirral’s most enchanting traditions will continue unabated, writing chapter after chapter in its own absorbing history.

Images

© Ian Hazelhurst (Facebook group ‘Hoylake 365’)

The Lake 05

The Changing Face of Solar As over 99% of the solar installations in the UK are of the traditional panels, it’s not surprising that most people think this is the only form available for the technology that converts daylight into electricity. Tony Edwards, from local Solar specialists Natural Energy Sources explains: “Whilst there have been improvements in the aesthetics of these panels over the past couple of years (all black panels for example), some people still do not like the look of large panels erected on rails above their existing tile/slate roof covering – particularly if the installation is for the front of their property. Whilst the counter argument may be that traditional roof coverings may not look that good themselves, the solar industry has taken on board this view, and are starting to produce systems like the one shown above, which we installed earlier this summer and has received many positive comments. Whilst these systems are more expensive they add to the appearance of the property, and the added value more than outweighs the additional cost.”

As outlined in previous editions of The Lake, it is to the benefit of solar system owners to use as much of the generated energy as possible, and there are a number of ways of achieving this – from basic behavioural changes (such as switching on appliances when it is sunny), through to more sophisticated automated solutions. Tony explains: “We installed one of these more comprehensive systems earlier this year, whereby the energy produced by the system is used in the first instance to power the appliances that are already on in the house. The excess energy then charges a set of batteries and

then as much of the further excess as possible is redirected to an immersion heater before the final balance is sent to the National Grid.

The system was connected through to the internet, from where the homeowner can monitor what the system is doing in overview using a simple ‘app’ (as shown below), or in much more detail using an online portal.

With a further advantage of also being able to provide a backup supply in case of any outages of the main electricity grid (automatically switching over to battery power if the grid goes down) – this system would even power your front door bell for when the neighbours call around to ask you to store their frozen food!”

06 The Lake

Caldy Railway Station 1909-1954

By Mark Hughes It is difficult to imagine now, but Caldy once had its own railway station.

The railway track linking Hooton to Parkgate was established in 1866 and owned by the Birkenhead Railway (owned jointly by GWR and LNWR), and later extended in 1886 along what is now known as the Wirral Way, to West Kirby, passing of course through Caldy. However, at this point in time, trains running along the single track could not stop at Caldy as there was no station. Indeed, with a population of around 140 people, largely employed in agriculture, there was no real need for a station. The single track was positioned relatively close to the River Dee due to the objections of a local landowner; it had originally been intended to run further inland.

The extension opened on 19th April 1886.

The occasion is said to have been a quiet affair. Indeed, five days later, the Chester Chronicle newspaper reported that the opening took place “without any kind of formality or demonstration”. The extended line eventually ran from West Kirby via Kirby Park, Caldy, Thurstaston, Heswall, Parkgate, Neston South, Hadlow Road to Hooton.

Amongst its users were many school children travelling to their school in West Kirby and visitors to the seaside towns of West Kirby and Parkgate. From a commercial perspective, coal transportation from Neston was important for the first 40 years of the existence of the line, until the closure of the Neston collieries in the 1920s.

Apart from the acquisition of Caldy by the Barton family, the coming of the railway was one of the most influential developments in the history of the village of Caldy. Within

decades of the arrival of the railway there was significant change and development in the former farming village. The railway laid the foundations for the development of the village into the premier residential district that undoubtedly it is today.

Decades passed before the building of Caldy railway station, which opened on 1st May 1909, enabling wealthy businessmen and merchants to travel easily to work in Liverpool or Birkenhead from their new executive homes being built in the village.

The station was a simple design which consisted of a single wooden platform and a single corrugated iron building decorated on each gable end with bargeboards. It consisted of a ticket office, a waiting room and lavatories, and the station building stood on top of a high embankment. Caldy station had no goods facilities.

A train journey from West Kirby, which is where the line started, would have taken passengers past Kirby Park railway station.

Once passed Kirby Park, the view to the right of the train was what is now known as Cubbins Green and the River Dee, and to the left would have been a very pleasant view of the beautiful slopes of Caldy Hill.

The station was in operation for 45 years, but the motorcar later reduced the need for rail travel from Caldy, and the railway station closed, along with Thurstaston, on 1st February 1954. The last passenger

train to pass through the village of Caldy was on the 15th of September 1956. This was followed by the final goods train, which followed almost six years later on 7th May 1962. The last train to run through Caldy stopped at the little station for the last time and according to the excellent website disused-stations.org.uk, it stopped at Caldy “to collect any remaining fixtures and fittings that were of any value”.

In 1960 Queen Elizabeth passed through Caldy on the train, on her way back from an engagement in Wallasey. It was not a scene of flags, banners or bunting, although a number of people stood waiting to catch a glimpse of her.

However, apparently Her Royal Highness never appeared at the window.

The railway line was lifted in 1964, the 55-year-old station building and platform was demolished, and the line was eventually converted into the ‘Wirral Way’, or more formally Wirral Country Park, after Cheshire County Council bought the track bed in 1969. Indeed, the Wirral Way became Britain’s first country park in 1973.

Although it is hard to envision now, next time you walk along the Wirral Way try to imagine the old-fashioned steam trains travelling along the route…

The Lake 07

Did you know that Port Sunlight has holiday cottages, wedding venue hire, museum guided tours and educational school workshops?

These are all available through the Port Sunlight Village Trust, a charitable trust that manages and maintains this historically important 19th century garden village.

There is so much to do in Port Sunlight you will be amazed! Open all year round, visit Port Sunlight Museum on King George’s Drive and find out the answers to the village’s past, present and future.

There are a wide selection of school workshops, including Victorian Washday, The Home Front, Then & Now and Port Sunlight Village.

If you are having a gathering, or want to run a workshop or need a meeting space, take a look at the Lyceum’s Old School Room. Filled with character features, it is a sizable hire space with a breakout room located in a picturesque setting – perfect for a variety of activities.

If you have friends and family looking for somewhere to stay, book into a holiday cottage. With Edwardian charm and 21st century home comforts, such as integrated appliances, TV and Wi-Fi, these cottages provide an ideal base from which to explore the surrounding area.

To find out more about any of the services available, contact: Port Sunlight Museum: call 0151 644 6466, Wedding Venue Hire: call 0151 644 4811, Holiday Cottages: call 0151 644 4805, Educational Workshops: call 0151 644 4803 Visit: portsunlightvillage.com

08 The Lake

Jones & Company Limited Closed 1966

By Heather Chapman If you had lived in West Kirby before the 1960s you are sure to remember Jones’s, West Kirby’s very own departmental store.

The iconic building that housed the shop still stands on the corner of The Crescent and Banks Road (now The Mill Shop). The Crescent buildings were built by William Watson Christian following the opening of the Christian Institute, (opposite the railway station) in 1892. The Crescent still commands a wonderful olde worlde postcard scene (despite the traffic). You only need to look up to the first floor, above the shops, to appreciate the striking decoration, turrets and towers. In early days there were also balconies above the shops, extending the full length of one side of The Crescent.

Thomas Frederick Jones (the son of a draper from Liverpool) married Jane Gertrude Greenwood in 1896 and the family set up their home and business in West Kirby. The family business, Jones & Company Limited, was later managed by their son, Thomas Frederick Paul Jones, who lived at 24 Grange Road, West Kirby (formerly Sandfield House, occupied by Dr Thacker King).

The earliest record I have found of Jones & Company is in the 1897 Hoylake and West Kirby Directory. At that time, Brick’s Boot Makers occupied 21 and 23 The Crescent, and Jones & Company, drapers, occupied 25 The Crescent. Jones & Company, tailors and outfitters, also occupied 3 The Crescent.

By 1911, Jones & Company had become a limited company and occupied 12 The Crescent. The company had also acquired Brick’s Boot Makers (which could be accessed from inside Jones’s shop) and

occupied 19 to 25 The Crescent. This is the large Jones’s shop that I remember.

The TV programme Are You Being Served? brings back vivid memories of this wonderful shop.

Jones’s was always a model store. The shop closed for a day of mourning for King Edward V11’s funeral on 20 May 1910.

The notice included an advertisement for mourning wear. During World War I, shop opening times were adjusted to make fuel savings.

The Lake 09

STUNNING NEW SHOWROOM

NOW OPEN IN HOYLAKE

As chosen by Theo Paphitis

120 Market Street, Hoylake CH47 3BH • Tel: 0151 632 1670 Open Monday - Friday 9.30pm - 5.30pm, Saturday 10am - 4pm

As featured in

Website: www.rowefittedinteriors.co.uk • Email: info@rowefittedinteriors.co.uk There were also squirrel scarves and muffs, and seal scarves for sale.

The business was so successful that when the new shops were built in 1929 opposite The Crescent, Jones & Company Limited men’s department store opened in the new premises at 10 Banks Road.

The large shop, with a first floor department, catered for many needs. Drapery, lingerie, hosiery, men’s, ladies’ and children’s clothes and shoes were all available. This 1921 advert gives a vivid description of Jones & Company Limited: “The progressive spirit of Jones & Company is exemplified in the manner in which they have fashioned anew their premises. The magnificent frontage is quite in keeping with the taste and refinement displayed inside. It is the city brought to your very doors. The quality and range of goods offered by this house of repute are widely known. Every member of the family is catered for in boots and shoes and wearing apparel. For ladies, the windows are an almost irresistible attraction.”

Jones & Company Limited always had the largest advertisement in the local newspaper.

I was shocked and somewhat amazed when I read the following 1912 advertisement showing that the company supported ‘recycling’ animals, having for sale grey squirrel necklets complete with heads.

When I was a young child, I remember being fascinated by the overhead wire cash system. When you paid for your goods, the assistant didn’t put it in a till but instead the money was dropped into a brass cylinder and attached to an overhead wire. The money was whizzed off to a cashier in a booth, who whizzed back the change. This was very entertaining for young children.

The stairs were wide and swept up to the first floor. This was where my mother took me to buy my West Kirby Grammar School uniform. She had an endless list of school uniform to purchase and sports equipment was bought from Haskins’ Sport Shop in Grange Road. It made me feel very important.

To the left of the staircase, lingerie and hosiery were purchased. Everything was kept in drawers with a glass top counter.

My aunt bought my first pair of stockings from here. I felt very grown up. Nylons had now progressed to seamfree micromesh stockings and mine were a tan colour. I can’t remember whether the make was Bear Brand or Pretty Polly.

In my teenage days I began dressmaking, and material, cottons, zips and all your sewing needs could be purchased at Jones’s.

Thomas Frederick Jones senior passed away in 1962 and his son, Thomas Frederick Paul Jones passed away in 1966. Jones’s closed and was sadly missed by West Kirby residents. The inside staircase was demolished to make a separate first floor premises. I think the downstairs shop became Quellyn Roberts, wine merchants, and upstairs was occupied for a few years by the RAFA club. The shoe shop was separated from the store and the entrance was from The Crescent.

Now the shop, Jones & Company Limited, is just a memory of life in 20th century West Kirby. This was a traditional shop; and for many locals can be described as ‘gone – but never forgotten’.

10 The Lake

Beautifully converted and newly built character homes While every apartment at Mostyn is individual here we spotlight a feature property for sale to highlight what is on offer.

There are two large double bedrooms and the master suite comes with a shower room and a range of fitted wardrobes.

Plot 210 is a gem of a property and the last penthouse available in the development.

It also comes with a hidden secret – a vast south facing terrace that has the potential to be an outdoor ‘room’.

Plot 210 is priced at £329,950.

The apartment is spacious and flooded with light, perfect for downsizers who may want to scale down the size of their property but not their lifestyle. The highly specified kitchen comes with a breakfast bar and there is plenty of room for a large dining table for entertaining.

The lovely living room has double doors leading out onto the terrace which has views of the Grade II listed chapel with its stained glass windows which are illuminated at night.

The apartment comes with two allocated car parking spaces and both are available for occupation early in the new year.

Words cannot do justice to either the apartments or the development and the only way to understand the special quality of both the properties and the location is to visit and see for yourself.

The development and show units are open Thursday to Monday 10am to 5pm.

Go to www.mostynplace.co.uk for details of all the properties available or call and speak to the sales team on 0151 336 8873.

The former Mostyn House School at Parkgate on The Wirral is being converted into a series of beautiful, spacious apartments offering distinctive living in this idyllic location.

Each home is unique, with its own special features and character appealing to buyers across the spectrum.

What they do all have in common is their own private outside space, the use of a stunning communal entrance lounge and the PJ Livesey hallmark of quality.

The family owned company has been restoring and converting listed buildings across the UK for more than 30 years and the properties they create become special homes that stand the test of time.

@lakewirral

12 The Lake

Hilbre Island A Walk on the Wild Side

By Robert Foster It is not often you find somewhere that provides the true escapism so many of us crave. A spot that offers total isolation from the rest of the world. Like many, I have always been inspired by those places that allow unadulterated solitude; opportunities to slip away from everyone and everything and embrace the sound of silence. In an ever-shrinking world these little gems are increasingly hard to come by; however, for those willing to take a step into the unknown, your sanctuary could be nearer than you think.

To most, Hilbre Island conjures images of sun-bathed expeditions with friends, family and budding explorers. With ice creams in hand and kites in tow, people from near and far wait for the tide to slip away before tracing the well trodden path to Little Eye and beyond. As much as I love to follow the buzzing crowds to the island on a warm summer afternoon, I cannot help but feel these eager pioneers are blinkered to the true wonders of Hilbre Island.

As memories of summertime fade and the troops of adventurers disperse, the intrepid among us are afforded the opportunity to find true solace in the rugged beauty of Hilbre. To me, the small island that guards the mouth of the Dee comes into its own when the waves encroach, capturing all who remain as they crash against the sandstone shoreline upon which this haven sits. Perhaps a daunting thought to many, the idea of surrendering myself to the might of this small island is liberating to say the least.

For those unfamiliar with Hilbre, it is a fascinating island moored at the mouth of the River Dee – a stone’s throw from West Kirby. Accessible by foot when the tide permits, its charm and charisma have ensured this rocky outcrop has firmly established itself as the jewel in Wirral’s crown. Eroded archways and gulleys of red sandstone adorn the jagged boundaries of the island, dotted with boulders, shingle beaches and steep-sided cliffs. The varied landscape and thriving assortment of wildlife guarantee that, once seen, Hilbre Island is never forgotten, and few can deny it offers a stunning visual feast that cries out to be explored.

Hilbre at high tide offers a very different perspective on a landscape many know so well and is sure to revitalise affections for this intriguing little island. There is no denying that striding towards the horizon against the flow of returning visitors is unnerving at first, but the sense of freedom that accompanies the walk across the evernarrowing estuary overthrows any initial uncertainties. A sense of nervous excitement takes hold upon arrival, watching the tide roll in and praying it does not consume the entire island.

Care must be taken not to let the exhilaration of a visit to Hilbre cloud one’s judgement, particularly in the unpredictable off-peak months. The island must be treated with the respect it deserves at the best of times, let alone in the heart of winter. The vicious currents that swirl around the rocky shoreline are well documented and there is little protection when dark clouds roll in and the rain beats down relentlessly. Check the weather forecast, double check the tide times, and make sure someone knows where you are before you embark; the desire for adventure is no excuse for naivety.

Unbeknownst to most, Hilbre has a dark side: a secret persona that tends to glide under the radar. Despite welcoming the crowds with open arms on bustling Bank Holiday weekends, the island is a sinister creature when left alone. When the tide has rolled in and the swarms of visitors are long gone, a haunting atmosphere hangs in the air. At no time does this become more apparent than when you enter the famous abandoned lifeboat station; its exposed sandstone walls, pockmarked by the elements, take you back in time and its eeriness is exacerbated by the ramp that disappears into the foaming sea below.

The bubbling waters that creep towards the building strike fear into my heart at the best of times, but, if you are lucky, can also offer a friendly source of reassurance and company in the friendly form of a Grey Seal.

One of the main draws of Hilbre is the promise of spotting a seal or two bobbing within the surf between the West Hoyle sandbank and the island itself. The sandy shelf that sits to the west of the island offers an ideal haven for the seals to wallow and relax as they gather in large numbers.

Whilst a pair of binoculars is almost guaranteed to provide a glimpse into the

social life of these slightly peculiar creatures, such an encounter can be intensified at high tide when they will swim close to the island if the mood takes them.

They are truly striking animals, with mottled grey fur and large brown eyes that give them an unmistakeable human quality; I cannot help but feel we view each other with equal curiosity.

Seals aside, the variety of wildlife on and around Hilbre Island is central to its popularity. A myriad of birds benefit from the unique ecology of the island, with all manner of waders, raptors and songbirds visiting regularly. Whilst I remain mesmerised by the sight of a kestrel anchored in the blustery winds that blow down the estuary, the more discerning birdwatcher is more likely to be drawn in by the potential of seeing a Peregrine Falcon striking fear into the hearts of the island’s winged residents.

Despite my fondness for the temporary seclusion high tide brings, there is a sense of relief and reconnection as Hilbre strikes back and reclaims its allegiance with the mainland. Like a boxer who will not be beaten, the island grits its teeth, digs in its heels and refuses to yield to the sea. After several hours the shell covered shoreline slowly reappears and the bountiful rock pools that are an endless source of intrigue to beachcombers are replenished, stocked to the brim with an array of curious creatures. As the tide falls further away, wading birds return to their sandy feeding grounds, hungrily picking tasty morsels from the freshly exposed ground beneath them, suggesting it is nearly time to return.

The walk back to civilisation is two-thirds excitement, one-third relief. Perhaps it is the caveman in me but I revel in thefact I have returned from the wilderness unharmed; I have out manoeuvred the tide and used my wits to survive! I may not be Ray Mears, but that does not detract from my satisfaction of conquering Hilbre at high tide.

To most, Hilbre will forever evoke halcyon memories of fun times and long summer days with loved ones, and rightly so. No matter how you choose to explore it, the anticipation, wildlife and breathtaking views all combine to make Hilbre Island a compelling day out. I have no doubts that the wild side of Hilbre will not be to everyone’s taste, but never does this tiny island feel so vast and mysterious as when you walk it alone.

14 The Lake

The early years of West Kirby Methodist Church where Bridge Walks now stands, could accommodate 1,200 and was said to be the centre of social life in 1899, though it was rivalled by Tynwald Hall in The Crescent for dances and meetings of all kinds. The Christian Institute in Grange Road could seat only 300 in its lecture room, but it did provide classrooms, a reading room and a gymnasium. West Kirby was a vibrant place. Against this background it is easy to see why the Wesleyans felt the need to expand beyond the School Chapel built in 1889. There were such great possibilities.

The planning and the preparation were over and so was that unforgettable day. The road had been decorated with streamers and there was considerable local interest when Mrs Horton formally opened the doors of the new Chapel on Tuesday 26th April 1904.

The visit from Leeds of such an illustrious preacher as Reverend Samuel Chadwick to conduct the opening service added to the excitement, while the hymns and music provided by the American organ were described as “tasteful” and “appropriate”.

No Methodist event would be complete without tea and this was supplied by a team of ladies at five o’clock in the old School Chapel. Suitably refreshed for the evening’s public meeting, all returned to the new Chapel where Mr Ashcroft of Oxton presided over it very ably. There had also been plenty of time to admire the handsome pulpit, the pitch pine pews with the useful hat rail underneath, the spacious chancel and the windows with their “cathedral tints of artistic and appropriate design”, before going home, with feelings of relief, thanksgiving and anticipation.

Despite the anxieties of the South African War, there were grounds for optimism in West Kirby in the early years of the 20th century. The town had been growing steadily since the railway line had reached it in 1878 and the population had increased considerably from the 2,441 recorded in the 1891 census. “West Kirby is famed for its beneficial effects in consumption

and other diseases of the respiratory organs and has a future second to none as a residential health resort.”, so says the Directory of 1897 and that is presumably the reason why people paid two and a half guineas (£2.62p) for a week’s stay at The New Hydro – the Sanatorium of the North.

It was obviously a popular place. At one time there was even talk of banning bath-chairs from the promenade because of the congestion!

For healthy residents there were plenty of places to go and things to do. The red-brick public hall at the corner of Bridge Road,

However, as well as looking forward, they must have looked back to their roots, to the first Circuit Quarterly Meeting held in Hoylake at the home of Reverend Thomas Carmichael at 4 Alexander Terrace on 17th January 1885 and to the meetings at Tynwald Hall, the entrance to which is now the florist’s shop in The Crescent. They would remember “a lengthy conversation on the advisability of beginning to build” in 1888 and the plans submitted, the following year, by Mr Wills of Derby, the architect, for a School and Chapel – the cost not to exceed £3,000.

Before the laying of the Memorial Stone on 20th July 1889, there were meetings, tenders and site visits. After that, Mr Christian, whose tender of £9l4. 4s. 0d. had been accepted, could get on with the job.

Unfortunately, he did not get on quite fast enough for the Trustees and there were various complaints about lack of progress.

However, the minutes of the Quarterly Meeting for 30th December 1889 say it was held in the vestry, so it doesn’t really seem to have taken too long to build.

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From then until the opening of the new Chapel, the School Chapel was very well used, not only for services, but also for the Sunday School and Tea Meetings. The Prayer Meetings, Band of Hope and Sewing Meetings may have met in one of the vestries if the numbers were smaller.

How the ‘Patent Convertible’ seats stood up to all this use is not mentioned. As well as these seats one other important purchase was made – “a moveable lavatory for the Preachers’ Vestry at a cost of about £1.

0s. 0d. or £1. 10s. 0d” (£1.50). Its present whereabouts is unknown!

The building and meetings may have been important, but the people who were an integral part of the church were even more so. The death of the Chapel Keeper is noted in the Trust minutes of 25th October 1900 as follows: “That the meeting places on record the great loss it has sustained through the sudden death of Mr Samuel

Rigby (aged 64) who was one of the first to introduce Methodism into this town and who, by his manly and faithful life, always did his best to promote its interests.” The Society at West Kirby not only grieved for the loss of Samuel Rigby, Class Leader and Sunday School teacher, but showed great concern for his widow. The Poor Fund which gave then, as it does now, discreet assistance to those members of the congregation in financial need, supplied several sums of money to her but, in addition to that, a special fund was set up called the ‘Rigby Fund’. The last mention of financial help to Mrs Rigby was in 1910.

Perhaps the advent of the Old Age Pension the following year improved her situation.

By 1901 it was felt that “lack of suitable accommodation” was hindering progress in a “neighbourhood rapidly increasing in population”. A scheme for the building of a new Chapel was discussed and an

application sent off to the Wesleyan Chapel Committee the following year. This was for a building to seat about 450 and to cost £3,500 (today the church buildings are insured for about £2 million). This money was to be raised by a membership of about 70! Fortunately for the generations that have followed, suggestions for the church to have a spire and seating for 700 were turned down, as they would “prove too heavy a burden”. How generously people gave and how hard they worked to raise the money! In the list of subscriptions there are gifts of £0. 5s. 0d. (25p) and gifts of over £l00, proceeds from a lecture and proceeds from the sale of a case of syrup.

Sewing Meetings and Tea Meetings raised money and memorial stones or bricks raised even more. People seemed to collect from friends and relatives everywhere, from Greenock to Grimsby from Liverpool to Llangollen – even the architect gave a donation. Fundraising culminated in a bazaar held in Tynwald Hall on 14th, l5th and 16th April 1904 when the sum of £442. 11s. 4d. was raised (about £28,750 today).

Having been unhappy with the builder of the School Chapel, the Trustees had this time chosen Mr S Fowler of Bootle. He seems to have satisfied everyone, which must have been particularly difficult as October 1903 was the wettest month ever recorded. He was duly paid £3,333. l6s. ld for his building work. There were also bills for the installation of lighting and heating and architects’ fees. Despite everyone’s efforts there was a temporary authorised debt of £875. This was not cleared for several years. However, in l9l0 there was the bazaar to beat all others. Again, it took place over three days and was held in the Public Hall. There was scenery, there was a band and an orchestra, there were numerous stalls – and it raised £l,043. ls.

0d! (currently about £67,800). The debt was cleared!

Article from Great Company – West Kirby Methodist Church 1904-2004.

16 The Lake

Life Drawing Melrose Hall, Hoylake

By Dennis Spicer

Painting by student Joan Oldham

Interesting things can come from chance meetings. I was waiting to cross the road in West Kirby when I saw an artist friend from an art club in Liverpool, coming toward me.

She said she was in an art group in Hoylake whose tutor had just left and they were looking for a new one. Would I be interested?

I went along to the Melrose Hall and that was when I first met the formidable Jackie Hall, who runs the activities there. As I was the only applicant I got the job, and my relationship with the Melrose Hall Art Club began.

I had moved to West Kirby from London a couple of years before, in 2001, with my family after many years of teaching and being an artist in the capital. I wanted to establish myself in a teaching role on the Wirral as well as having time to carry on my own work, so this was ideal. The club was predominantly working with watercolours then but when we talked it became apparent that they wanted new challenges in a different medium if possible. As I am an oil painter myself, the new water-based oil paints seemed an ideal choice.

Most people, when they start to paint as a leisure activity, start with watercolours, I think because it looks simple and on a small scale, while oil paint involves using smelly oils and chemicals which put people off. However, some oil paint manufacturers manufacture oil paints that can be thinned with water and you can wash your brushes under the tap. The members of the group took to these like ducks to water and were soon commenting on the other advantages of the new paints. You could scrape paint off and paint over your ‘mistakes’, whereas a watercolour that had gone wrong had to be consigned to the bin.

The club is now thriving, with more than 20 members painting together each week, mostly on their own projects, but also eager to learn new techniques when I set special projects and give regular demonstrations, as well as enjoying the occasional trip into Liverpool to see and discuss an exhibition.

Back in London, one of my regular teaching jobs was running a life drawing class in Adult Education, and I missed teaching it, so when Jackie told me they had a vacant afternoon at the hall I put the idea to her and she gave me the all clear. Life drawing, or drawing nude models, is something artists have done for hundreds of years. It is regarded as the ultimate test of an artist’s drawing ability, but it also has a rather saucy image with the general public.

It is often seen as rather comical, being used as a comedy situation in shows like Mr Bean and Miranda, so I was a bit apprehensive about starting a class in Hoylake. However, after a poster and newspaper advertising campaign I booked a model from Liverpool and was pleased with the good turnout for the first session. The

sessions continue with a good mix of professional artists, dedicated amateurs, and people who just wish to develop a skill or hobby or want to prepare a portfolio for art college. Advice and tuition is always available if needed, and all groups are friendly and share their experience over tea and cake in the break provided by the kitchens at Melrose Hall.

We have been going now for about nine years, adding another life drawing session in the evening four years ago, due to the popularity of the class and so people can come and draw after work. Once a year all classes come together to exhibit their best work in the Melrose Hall, with many works sold.

If you feel you would like to learn a new skill, either oil painting or life drawing, or you are already involved with the arts and would like to join any of the groups, you can contact me by email – dennis.spicer@talktalk.net and I would be pleased to give you more information.

Wirral Open Studios Tour I am pleased to say that the Wirral Open Studio Tour will take place on the weekend of 13th and 14th June 2015. If you are an artist, photographer or craftsperson who has participated before, you will know the benefits of greeting the public in your studio, workplace or one of the exhibition spaces, talking about your artistic practice and inspiration as well as selling your work. You will also meet other artists at the meetings held before and after the tour to network and share experiences.

If you are a professional or semi-professional art practitioner who has either not yet taken part and would like to join the tour, or has previously exhibited, you can join by contacting us at the Wirral Open Studios website – www.wirralart.com

The Lake 17

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18 The Lake

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The Lake 19

WHAT’S ON AT Friday 30th January

Gary Murphy

Musical legend with his guitar

Saturday 14th February

Valentines movie night – Serendipity One of the most romantic movies EVER! 2 courses and a bottle of wine EACH plus a movie for £20!

Tuesday 17th February

Shrove Tuesday

A selection of savoury and sweet pancakes bursting with amazing flavours!

Saturday 7th March Spanish themed movie night with movie ‘El Camino’ and Catalan Stew with Patatas Bravas and a bottle of Rioja EACH just £20pp! (Movie is in English)

Friday 13th March

Gary Murphy

Back by popular demand with his amazing guitar

Tuesday 17th. March

St Patricks Day

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20 The Lake

West Kirby Sailing Club Christmas Race Series

By Phil Shepherd I enjoy the Christmas race series because it is only eight races over five days, over two weeks when I can plan to be free, between work and all the social club activities like carols, junior party, youth party, New Year party etc. The weather can be surprisingly good, and indeed it was hot and sunny one day, but we could not race as there was not a hint of wind. The weather can also be predictably bad, which also featured, but although wet, we are all still around to enjoy what is to come in 2015.

Twenty-seven dinghies took part in the fast handicap, and four in the slow handicap fleet.

I capsized in the first race, as the wind really piped up, but modern gear doesn’t leave you either very wet or cold, and it is a traditional way of checking the state of the underside of your boat. The majority did, however, cope well, and had great racing.

Everybody’s favourite is the Boxing Day Pursuit Race. The dinghies start in a handicap sequence based on their known average class speed, with the slowest boats going for over half an hour before the fastest classes (International Canoes), which then have to play catch-up. It is a great spectator sport to watch the boats catching and passing those in front, until after 90 minutes they are finished on the water in a very tight bunch. It is definitely the best way to blow away a lazy Christmas Day.

The New Year’s Day race was remarkable for the numbers who launched in a 27 knot wind, which was forecast to be worse. The forecast proved to be correct, and after four laps of the course, the wind suddenly rose to 43 knots, leaving a lot of sailors inspecting the bottoms of their dinghies.

All hands went to the rescue and no boats or people were damaged, but the mud in the bottom of the lake holds onto upturned masts like superglue so it all took some time. (It is also disappointingly poor at improving your complexion after a good lashing from salt water.)

Nevertheless, it was a great race series, with many participants, and the heroes were: Fast 1st – Mike Hartley and Jemima Riley

in his Albacore 2nd – John Carlin in his Albacore 3rd – Trevor Jenkins in a GP14 Slow 1st – Peter Williams in his Illusion 2nd – Peter Bramley in his Illusion

Contact Phil Shepherd, Vice Commodore 0151 625 5645 office@wksc.org.uk

Forthcoming events Jan 31st/Feb 1st British Universities Team Racing Championship Northern Qualifier (18 teams) July 3rd-5th WKSC’s 100th Regatta

The Lake 21

The local interest magazine for West Kirby, Hoylake, Meols and Caldy

Please let us know how we can help promote you or your events/causes Contact our Editor By email: jon@lakemagazine.co.uk By post: The Editor, The Lake, Royal Standard House, 334 New Chester Road, Rock Ferry, Wirral CH42 1LE Telephone 07796 945745.

The museum is open every Saturday morning 10am – 1pm.

The current temporary display by the Museum Research Group is about the History of the Crescent, West Kirby.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS Friday 13th March

‘West Kirby’s Windmill: A Medieval Landmark’ An illustrated talk by G. Rymill 7 for 7.30pm at St Bridget’s Centre, West Kirby

For more information, visit the website www.westkirbymuseum.co.uk

22 The Lake

Hoylake Lifeboat Museum

For those who haven’t seen it, I felt that this would be an ideal opportunity to publish our latest newsletter, which gives a hint of what we have achieved in 2014. As to 2015, which is already speeding by, we have plans to redevelop our displays, to get our boathouse doors re-painted – not something to undertake lightly, or in autumn/winter gales. We weren’t able to open our doors very often during December, mainly due to our “onshore breeze” for which we apologise.

The Trustees and Committee of Hoylake Lifeboat Museum would like to wish all readers of The Lake a happy, peaceful and prosperous 2015.

Hoylake Lifeboat Museum in 2014 2014 sped by so quickly! We thought that we would remind you of some of the highlights of last year.

Last year we have welcomed over 3,000 visitors to the museum.

(Yes, we keep a count!) We hosted part of the Festival of Firsts Art Exhibition. We opened our doors during the evenings of the Open Golf Tournament, and felt privileged to meet visitors from Australia, New Zealand, the USA, many parts of Europe and the UK, too. We continued to be a popular venue for school visits from across the North West, and for visits from local interest groups.

We hosted several well-attended and successful fundraising events, including: Antiques Valuations, a pop-up Charity Shop, and An Evening with the Magic Lantern.

We were awarded several grants which have allowed us to upcycle some old tyres, repaint them and create colourful displays of summer flowers on the old Lifeboat Station car park – we intend to continue refilling the tyres on a regular basis, and have just planted up the winter/spring display. Very many thanks to Mr Cross of Rostherne Nursery, Wallasey, for supplying us with the primrose and polyanthus plants. One of the grants enabled us to install two community noticeboards outside the museum.

We have also begun the process of renovating the boathouse

doors – given their height, and the changeable weather, we must always be mindful of the health and safety of our wonderful volunteers, so the repainting will take place in the early spring.

We would like to thank all our friends for their support in 2014 and wish everyone a peaceful 2015.

Beverley Aspinall, Secretary, Hoylake Lifeboat Museum Reg. Charity No. 1142970.

15 North Parade, Hoylake CH47 2AL. www.hoylakelifeboatmuseum.com Telephone: 0151 632 5529

24 The Lake

Local Wildlife Sentinels

By Matt Thomas Just to my right, on the murky waters of the channel cut into the mudflats by the tide, are some Pintail ducks. These are beautiful and elegant ducks that visit the Dee Estuary for the winter. They breed in Scandinavia in the summer months so if, like me, you want to photograph them, you only have a few months to get the pictures that you want. This may sound like a long time, but take into account the vagaries of the British winter weather and the effect of the tides on their distribution, and you will find that this really isn’t much of an opportunity at all.

The males in particular are very attractive.

They initially appear grey, a shade synonymous with dullness. But if you look closely you will find they are anything but bland. Take the time to see past the drab first impression and you will see they are really rather beautiful. The plumage is made up of many thousands of zigzaggy black and white stripes, which from a distance appear grey. However, when you spend time with these birds and get close to them your eyes begin to resolve the greyness into a mesmerising pattern.

That is what I am trying to photograph today. I need to get reasonably close to do this, but not so close that I disturb them. I believe it is of the utmost importance that when taking pictures of any wildlife the photographer should not unduly influence its behaviour.

Dressed in my finest drab clothing I am hunkered down amongst some rocks close to where the Pintails usually congregate.

They will not detect me if I stay quiet and still. The tide is dropping and soon the birds will return to bathe in the stream that flows off the farmland that flanks the shore.

It is then that I plan to take some pictures before the birds disperse across the mudflats to feed. Then, with full memory cards, I can leave without ever disturbing my favourite ducks.

The first few Pintails return from the fringes of the marsh where they have spent the high tide. I get ready, adjusting the settings on the camera to get the right exposure, firing off a few test shots as the birds approach so I can be sure to be ready when the birds get in range for some of the pictures that I have composed in my head prior to today’s session.

This is it, what I have been waiting around in the freezing cold for the last hour and a half. The pictures will be worth the numb fingers, toes and nose. I ready my shutter finger, hover it over the shutter button.

Then… “kyip…kyip…kyip!”

A loud, anxious call pierces the easy calm of the morning. A Redshank is shouting an earnest alarm call. The Pintails look suitably alarmed and swim off to the middle of the channel and out of range. I mutter a few expletive ridden curses as my chance of decent pictures disappears for the day.

It is a false alarm too, no bird of prey appears to harry the feeding wader flocks and peace returns quickly but the Pintails don’t.

I look around and find the culprit. The nervous Redshank has started feeding

again and a few more fly in to join it, just a few yards in front of me. Some start to bathe in a puddle left behind by the receding tide. I look at them for a while, disappointed that I didn’t get my Pintail pictures but not really angry with the ’Shanks, they are only looking out for their own safety. Peregrine Falcons are regular here in the winter, the lure of a tasty meal in the form of a careless wading bird brings a handful of these powerful raptors to the muddy banks of the Dee each winter.

Their hair-trigger alarm calling has earned the Redshank the nickname “Sentinel of the Marsh”. As soon as they detect what they think is a threat they strike up their

The Lake 25 as they scurry about the mud, probing for food, having the odd squabble with each other and occasionally preening. While doing this I realise that I have a massive soft spot for this species and if they were to disappear from the estuary they would leave a big hole to fill.

The images are stacking up on the memory cards and the atmosphere is very relaxed when all of a sudden Sentinel starts to alarm call – and it is for real this time, as a Peregrine swoops in from the cliffs. All the Redshanks start to call, Oystercatchers join in. The Knot fly up in alarm, soon joined by the Black-tailed Godwits. It is hard to tell what is going on as birds are flying fast in all directions. Eventually calm is restored and the birds resume feeding, this time further away from the shore. I feel this is the right time to pack up and head home. I leave with a newfound respect for Redshanks. On the walk home I see a white speck on the cliffs and when I get closer I see exactly what it is. high-pitched kyip-ing and fly up in a panic, not just warning their kin, but all the other birds on the marshes and mudflats – it’s like they are watching out for all of the Peregrine’s prey. Their nickname is certainly deserved.

rocky shores of Hilbre Island you will find Redshanks, in loose flocks they feed on the mudflats off Thurstaston. The odd one will be found on sodden fields looking for earthworms and down on the marshes many thousands roost at high tide.

The Redshank is a common bird on the Dee. You can see them all year round although numbers are highest in the autumn and winter. They turn up in nearly all the habitats that make up the Dee Estuary. Around the seaweed-coated

As with many of our common birds we overlook them in search of more unusual or exotic species so I decide that I will concentrate on the Redshanks, our Sentinels, now that the Pintails are beyond reach. I spend an hour photographing them

Feathers A closer look reveals a Peregrine kill. So the bird that attacked was successful. A closer examination tells me the species that bit the bullet – a Redshank. A little sad, I turn to face the estuary again and see, striding across the mud, a group of Redshank. Still feeding despite the threat of Peregrines, still watching the skies, looking out for all the birds, the Sentinel of the Marsh.

Matt Thomas www.fromthemuddybanksofthedee.com

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Brian and Kate Vincent couldn’t be happier – it’s Hilbre Windows first birthday and what a successful year it’s been!

With over 250 customers, three fitting teams, three vans, and an ever-growing number of Facebook and Twitter followers, things couldn’t be better. They’re honoured to serve local residents and businesses and thank them for their valued support.

Thirty plus years of expertise and knowledge, along with their friendly & caring approach, have gone before them and have continued to make past customers and very welcome new customers extremely satisfied and happy. They use award winning REHAU uPVC products, which is fabricated on state-ofthe-art machinery and the quality, standard & manufacturing of their uPVC products cannot be faulted. Compare their products to others and the difference is quite startling. They only supply and install what they believe in and what their customers expect and deserve. What’s more they will BEAT ANY LIKE-FOR-LIKE WRITTEN QUOTE! They are open from 8am and always available during the evenings and weekends or call into the office and experience their personal touch and helpful service for yourself.

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28 The Lake

M I L A N T H E

R E S T A U R A N T

Set within the centre of West Kirby and only a pebbles throw away from the Wirral coastline. This fine local eatery has a stylish modern look, with sophisticated decor, original works of art, crisp white napkins with cool jazz playing in the background.

With food that is prepared with obvious care and served with great expertise, the staff of MILAN will make your visit special.

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Erika Patrick-Ward has sent us this photograph of a Kite Buggy on the beach at Hoylake taken on Boxing Day 2013.

The Lake 29

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The local interest magazine for West Kirby, Hoylake, Meols and Caldy

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30 The Lake

The only resolution to make: “Look and feel great” Modern-day life is stressful enough, so why do we put ourselves under even more pressure by making (often unrealistic) New Year’s resolutions?

Tracey Locke, lead clinician at Serenity Clinic believes the only resolution you need to make is to “look and feel great” and, explains how you can make a real difference to your appearance and your confidence in 2015, without putting yourself through the (tread)mill.

I would never criticise anyone for wanting to be fit and healthy and it’s important to exercise and eat a balanced diet, but feeling miserable or despondent if you don’t measure up to your own high standards will not make you look or feel good. This is especially true when there are a multitude of facial and body treatments that can make a real, lasting difference.

Body Conscious After weeks of overindulgence, it’s no surprise that getting into shape is top of most our lists. Whether you’re looking for a quick boost to motivate you or a real solution to those problem areas, there are lots of treatments that produce visible results.

Head Start: Detox is a great way to get yourself going again after the festive period – especially if you’re feeling that your body is sluggish and your skin is dull. Detox programmes with colonic hydrotherapy are a great way to prepare the way for a new healthier diet or generally boost your level of well-being. They can also help to alleviate symptoms such as bloating and if your body is functioning well on the inside it will always reflect on the outside, too.

Massages that promote lymphatic drainage can also help to get you out of the starting blocks.

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With the right range of equipment (medicalgrade if possible), aestheticians can also provide you with tailor-made, targeted treatments to suit your individual needs.

Facing the Future

• Cavitation (fat popping) – Ideal for larger areas of fat such as the abdomen, thighs, arms, chest (men’s ‘moobs’), etc. It literally ‘pops’ the fat cells so that they can’t refill. The result is significant inch loss.

Advanced skincare treatments including facials, peels, dermal rolling, IPL rejuvenation and light therapy produce outstanding results on lines and wrinkles and specialist treatments are available to treat those blemishes that blight confidence, for example red veins, pigmentation, acne, skin tags and rosacea. But to make a real difference in terms of rejuvenation, it’s well worth considering non-surgical lifting. From the CACI Ultimate through micro-current lifting to the Venus Freeze non-surgical facelift that produces the effects of a lift without surgery, it is possible to address the signs of ageing without taking drastic measures.

• Cryolipolysis (fat freezing) – It may sound like something out of a Superman film, but it is incredibly effective on those stubborn areas of fat that no amount of exercise seems to shift. It also vastly improves that dreaded cellulite. Even the most toned and active of people have problem areas where pockets of fat or cellulite accumulate and many think there is no way to deal with it. But, with Cryolipolysis there is and the results speak for themselves.

• Skin tightening – Whether it’s due to ageing or weight loss, there’s nothing more demotivating than not wearing the clothes you want to due to loose skin. No amount of exercise can tighten the skin or banish cellulite, but Radio Frequency and magnetic skin tightening effectively deal with saggy, loose skin in those problem areas such as the arms, neck, inner thighs, etc.

It’s not just our bodies that bother us as a new year dawns. For many of us, the passing of another year makes us feel that the signs of ageing are showing. But worrying about it won’t change it (and will only cause more lines and wrinkles) – it’s far better to take action as there are so many ways to vastly improve how you look and feel.

There are simple, pain-free, stress-free ways to make a real change to how you look and feel in 2015 – without a guilt-inducing, punishing regimen in sight – which is why I believe that the only resolution you need to make is “look and feel great”.

Serenity Clinic Ltd, 162 Banks Road, West Kirby, Wirral CH48 0RH Telephone: 0151 625 6256 www.serenity-clinic.co.uk

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Red Rocks – Photograph taken by Eric Wells earlier this month

32 The Lake

Designer Wigs, Hair-pieces & Extensions • Huge Range of Top Brand Wigs • Private Consultation Room • Discreet Professional Fitting Service • Aftercare Products & Advise Special Offer Sewn in Weft Extensions only £195 100% Luxury Remi Couture Hair.

(Colour Match Consultation is required one week before fitting of extensions)

Inside, What’s Cutting Hair Salon, 34-38 Banks Road, West Kirby, Wirral www.topknotswigs.com • 0151-625-9600

Stagecoach to set tails wagging as trainee support dogs and trainers travel free Bus operator Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire is launching a new scheme which will allow free travel on buses for members of a UK assistance dog training centre and their four-legged friends.

Free travel is now available for UK dog trainers Canine Partners, an organisation which trains assistance dogs on Stagecoach services across Merseyside and South Lancashire.

Elisabeth Tasker, Managing Director, said: “This scheme is a fantastic opportunity for the company to show our support and add to the work we already do in helping transport our assistance dog community.

“Going on public transport is essential for the training and development of these assistance dogs when out with their person and we’re very pleased to be working with Canine Partners to establish this scheme and improve accessibility for even more of our passengers across the regions we cover. We hope this will allow more assistance dogs and their owners to feel safe and secure on Stagecoach buses and enjoy their journeys with us!”

The new system will operate alongside the existing ‘Puppy Walkers’ scheme, which currently entitles trainee guide pups and their trainers to travel for free on most Stagecoach bus services in the UK. The initiative will play a key role in the training of assistance dogs’ and will help them get used to travelling on public transport. In order to take advantage of the scheme, passengers will need to show the bus driver their Canine Partner identification card and have their trainee dog with them.

For more information please visit: www.caninepartners.org.uk

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‘Snow And Ice’ Wirral Hospice St John’s Christmas Gala Dinner BBC Radio Merseyside’s Roger Phillips was the compere for Wirral Hospice St John’s spectacular ‘Snow & Ice’ Christmas Gala Dinner held on Thursday 11th December at Thornton Manor, which was attended by distinguished guest, the Lord Lieutenant for Merseyside, Dame Lorna Muirhead DBE, and over 130 guests from across Wirral, the Liverpool City region and the North West.

Described as a fabulous and impressive Christmas event, this very successful fundraising Gala Dinner raised almost £40,000 for Wirral Hospice St John’s which will be used to provide specialist palliative care and support to its patients and their families, carers and loved ones.

The evening started with a champagne reception in the Great Hall, sponsored by Liverpool’s Panoramic 34 Restaurant, followed by four courses of fine dining and seasonal entertainment from Liverpool Chamber Choir and Upton Hall School Chamber Choir – whose girls interpreted the theme of ‘Snow & Ice’ delightfully in their music, costumes and fantastic face paints! A prize draw and auction of luxury items and artwork by the internationally renowned sculptress, Emma Rodgers who created White Hart especially for Wirral Hospice St John’s, and well-known artists, Stephen Collett, David Wilson and Susan Myers, helped achieve considerable fundraising.

Speaking at the Gala Dinner about Wirral Hospice St John’s as one of his first duties as their new President, His Honour John Roberts said: “Whereas when originally founded and thereafter Wirral Hospice St John’s was concerned with the care of

Special Guest ‘John Bear’ from Wirral Hospice St John’s

Wirral Hospice St John’s volunteers and staff – Sandra Fairclough, Liz Munro, Teresa Nightingale, Kerry Threadgill, Michelle Talgam, Sarah Parr and Hayley Gough

cancer patients approaching the end of their lives, now it caters for patients with a whole variety of conditions such as severe and progressive heart and lung disease.

Now it has inpatients, day patients and Hospice at Home. Now the carers, families and friends of patients can draw on and benefit from the knowledge and support of Wirral Hospice. Now Wirral Hospice is working with other agencies and services to create new and enriched ways of serving its patients and the community of Wirral.”

Dame Lorna spoke warmly of the Hospice and the care and comfort it gives to its patients and then introduced a very special guest ‘John Bear’ who plays a key role in the Hospice’s pioneering Schools Progamme: “Wirral Hospice St John’s endeavours to reach out to the families and carers of patients, helping them to understand and cope with their feelings, as well as giving them practical help. Wirral Hospice has developed and launched its Schools’ Programme which is specifically designed to help children who are facing bereavement, to train teachers to help these children and have the difficult conversations that so often surround illness and death, and, crucially, to help children support each other through these difficult times. John Bear is part of the Hospice team. He goes to schools, and takes part in a little role play, showing that it is usual and acceptable to feel sad if a loved one is ill. John Bear may not say very much, but he is a great listener. Through its Schools’ Programme

and with John Bear’s help, Wirral Hospice St John’s hopes to allay fears, raise a smile and generally bring comfort to children facing situations that adults find difficult.”

John Bear certainly got into the Christmas spirit and spruced himself up in his tuxedo and entertained the guests in his own unique way.

‘Snow & Ice’ was made possible by sponsorship from The Johnson Foundation and Medicash and the work of the organising committee, comprised of the Hospice’s President His Honour John Roberts, its Chairman Dr Paul Cuthbertson MBE, Johnny Prestt, Stephen Burrows DL, Professor James Keaton MBE and Fundraising Development Manager Michelle Talgam. Wirral Hospice St John’s are immensely grateful to the sponsors and also for the support and donations from many other local businesses and supporters who made the evening such a success and a night to remember, especially for John Bear!

Mrs Mary Roberts and MC Mr Roger Phillips

34 The Lake

Career Guidance

• Being able to know all the students • I went to a small school so it’s what I’m used to

Preparing for University

Or a large uni – maybe you’re looking for:

By Susanne Christian

• A bigger library • More sports on offer

About Susanne

• A wider mix of people

I’m a fully qualified careers advisor, with a degree and a postgrad qualification in career guidance. Just as importantly, I’ve got lots of experience working with adults and young people, of all ages and in different situations: schools, colleges, Jobcentres, even in prisons.

Course/subject Try to say something about the course as well. Is it the module choices which interest you? The teaching styles? Lots of group work? Large proportion of practical work?

3. What can you offer?

I’ve worked one-to-one and with groups – and worked face-to-face, over the phone and given e-guidance. I’ve written some careers books and lots of content for careers websites.

See more about me on www.susannechristian.co.uk

It can be a worry deciding on your next steps – which options? University or not?

Which course? Whether you’re a young person, or a parent or grandparent, you want good information to support the right choices. In this column, I’ll be looking at topical careers issues.

This time, university interviews – it’s that time of year!

If you’ve got any careers questions, please get in touch (details below). I’ll give what help I can, but of course there’s no substitute for a one-to-one session with a careers adviser.

Remember, an interview is a two-way process. The university wants to attract you to study there, so be clear about what you can bring to the department or the uni as a whole, for instance: •

If you really want to impress the interviewer, find out how long the department (or the university) has been going. Long-established universities/ departments are very proud of their history.

2. Why are you applying?

Something must have attracted you to apply to this uni? Be clear in your mind what this is, for example: Location Do you want to be in a city? Near the countryside? Close to a coast? If you have a particular reason for this don’t be afraid to say so. Admissions staff want to hear about you as a person.

To book

• I do a lot of sailing so I want to be near the sea

Email susannechristian24@gmail.com or phone 07837 345082.

• I grew up in the country so wanted to be in a city

I’ve got an interview for university; how can I prepare?

• I love climbing so I have to be near mountains.

You’re right, preparation is essential.

There’s nothing worse than sitting in front of an interviewer not knowing what to say (and then afterwards thinking ‘I could have said…’).

Size It’s OK to want to go to a small uni or college, but be clear about why, for example: • More personal relationship with staff

• I’m hockey captain, so I’ll be trying out for the uni team • I organise events at school/college/youth group so I’m looking forward to booking bands for the Student Union • We were regional finalists in Young Enterprise, so I know I have business skills and can work with groups or even •

It’ll be my first time away from home, so I’m looking forward to trying new things (even better if you can say what these things are…)

The golden rule is – be genuine. The answers must be real for you. Don’t just trot them out because you’ve read them here, or your mate’s told you what to say.

Admissions staff have interviewed many people and they can tell!

Surprisingly, this doesn’t always mean being totally honest, though. If your reason for choosing a uni is that you wanted to use up all of your five choices, it’s probably best not to say that at an interview. Even if your reason for choosing that uni is not strong, try to work on it so it sounds positive.

Remember, you may end up studying there if that’s the way the offers work out.

1. Know who you’re applying to Do your homework. Find out what you can.

•

You know which department you’ve applied to (do you?), but which faculty is it in? (Some subjects can sit in several different faculties – geography, for example, can be science or social science).

• What modules are on offer? Do you get a choice in the first year? In other years?

• Find out which campus/building will you be studying in.

“I was most impressed by the way Susanne grasped my situation and gave practical solutions”

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Wirral Chamber Music Series 2014-15 Promoted by Hoylake Chamber Concert Society

Westbourne Hall, Westbourne Road, West Kirby CH48 4DQ Monday 23 February 2015 Ruisi Quartet

Monday 30 March 2015 Mediterranea Trio

Monday 27 April 2015 Palomino Quartet

String Quartet

Piano Trio

String Quartet

All concerts start at 7.30pm. Tickets £15 at the door For more information on the repertoires visit our website – www.chamberconcert.co.uk

The true meaning of Christmas found at Wirral Foodbank!

Wirral Foodbank, based on the Dock Road, Birkenhead, provides invaluable support all year round to the local community that needs a little helping hand. This year, local company Laird Experts joined forces with Whitfield Buildings, Heswall and Underground Training Station, Hoylake, to support the foodbank as much as they could. The companies gathered up donations from staff members, family, friends and other local businesses such as Roof Management Limited, Hoylake and Blue Moon Framing and Gallery, Heswall. They dropped the food off in time to ensure that the donations could be processed to reach families in need before Christmas.

Nik Ellis the Managing director at Laird said: “Charity starts at home and we feel passionately about supporting our local community and those that need help.” Together, they managed to drop off a whopping 155kg of food – upon weighing the food the volunteers even gave the Marketing team from Laird a round of applause as the donation was one of the larger ones they received. However, the people who deserve a huge round of applause are the volunteers driving this great cause.

Surrounded by smiles and laughter, the people volunteering create a warm and inviting atmosphere even during the chaos over Christmas. With people queuing to drop off food donations they certainly had their work cut out for them, but were enjoying every minute none the less. Donations are taken all year around and volunteers are greatly appreciated to help on site throughout the year. Well done to every one of the businesses and individuals that made the effort to bring donations in and of course the volunteers; it really did help those in need at Christmas.

The community fundraising will not be stopping though – Laird and Whitfield are keen to join together throughout the year with other businesses and build awareness for local charities collectively. So if you’re planning a fundraising event or would like some information about the events throughout the year please email Justine.mclaughlin@whitfieldbusiness.co.uk

36 The Lake

Under the Gavel A View from the Rostrum John Bathurst Crane with his regular column on the auction world...

Great men and great families do great works and none so much as this particular gentleman (illustrated) and his family.

William Cleaver (1812–1880) was Clerk to the West Derby Board of Guardians from 1847 until he died. His son, Harris Peugeot Cleaver, then succeeded him and was instrumental in founding the Cleaver TB Hospital in Heswall around 1903.

penalty be changed to life in prison. Mrs Maybrick was finally released and returned to America.

Victorian family portraits do not usually achieve high prices in the auction rooms. However, if the artist is a well-known master of his craft the portraits will be extremely valuable. The portrait illustrated of a young village girl by Sir George Clausen RA made £190,000 in our auction rooms in 2010; it was sold again in auction in London last year and made £170,000.

The market is now tighter with slightly less money around.

Ron Coleman – Pear & Lemon

You will read and see on TV that antique furniture is at an all-time low price in auction rooms. Don’t believe it. The rare and original pieces are still bringing good money and a Welsh oak tridarn made £1,800 last month in our Internet worldwide auction. Why? Well, it was original and fairly rare.

William Cleaver Portrait

William Cleaver’s grandsons, Arnold and Richard, were solicitors in Liverpool and represented Florence Maybrick who was accused of murdering her husband, James Maybrick of Battlecrease House in Liverpool in 1889. It is still thought by many that James Maybrick was the notorious ‘Jack the Ripper’ in London’s East End. Mr Maybrick’s reputation was not good, being a drug-taker, drunkard, womaniser and a general debauchee.

Despite the finest barristers of the day, Mrs Maybrick was convicted of murdering her husband by arsenic poisoning, the arsenic being obtained from flypapers, and she was sentenced to death. The Cleaver brothers were so convinced of her innocence that they travelled to America, Mrs Maybrick’s home country, at their own expense, to get further ‘post-trial’ statements and petitioned Queen Victoria who, unusually, became involved with the case and instructed that the death

Sir George Clausen Portrait

Local art exhibitions can be worthwhile visiting. The Heswall Artists’ Association exhibition at the United Reformed Church in Telegraph Road during the Heswall Festival had a good standard. ‘From West Kirby to Hoylake’ by Zoe Pearson caught my eye and should have found a new home quickly.

Zoe Pearson – West Kirby from Hoylake

The recent open exhibition at the Frodsham Arts Centre in Cheshire had a fine standard with a strict vetting committee.

‘Pear & Lemon’, acrylic on canvas, by Ron Coleman had a red ‘sold sticker’ on it two minutes after the exhibition opened its doors. I was just too late!

C18th Oak Welsh Tridarn

A lot containing a Chinese bronze censer and a bronze ladle, which I discovered in West Kirby, made £4,000 in our November auction, despite being only c19th – not unexpected, as the quality of the casting was very fine indeed.

Chinese Bronze Censer & Ladle – £4,000

The demand for Chinese objects continues unabated. If you do have oriental items, it as

always worth inviting me to have a close look at them as that multimillion pound vase is still waiting to be discovered in Wirral, as are the fine and valuable pictures.

I spend most of each week in the car visiting clients and advising about buying as well as selling, and cover about 800 miles every week in the North West and Wales.

I have started to give talks and lectures with valuation evenings, again which I enjoy. You can do business on the Internet, but there is no substitute for meeting people face to face – and why should people give auction rooms work to do if auctioneers don’t want to make the effort to do client home visits? Home visits by me are where the great discoveries are made!

My evening at the Irby Women’s Institute recently was most enjoyable, with interesting ‘post-talk’ questions from the audience and interesting objects brought in for me to appraise. More of this in the next issue. Bebington Rotary Club and Linghams Book Shop are hosting the next scheduled antiques ‘talk and valuation’ evenings, and a charity auction in Knutsford in Cheshire is also scheduled.

You can telephone me on 01244 680055 or 07836 209995 as I do have a couple of slots available in January.

Small groups in private house are successful, and a good way of raising money for charities. I am glad to say that philanthropy is alive and well in Wirral and Cheshire.

We have all heard of ‘barn finds’ of 1930s Rolls Royces with trees growing through their chassis, but ‘cellar discoveries’ are just as good and I have illustrated one of my recent ones in a cellar in Crosby – a 1960 Excelsior motorcycle.

Despite the need for considerable

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Excelsior 90 c1960 Motorcycle

restoration, we now have two people keen to acquire it for a winter or two to be spent on the project. The Excelsior company also produced about 1,000 motor cars, but probably none exist now.

Finally, an extremely rare photograph has been brought into our auction rooms.

Auction Rooms Titanic Iceberg photograph

The photograph of an iceberg was taken by Captain Wood of the SS Etonian two days before the Titanic hit an iceberg in the same area of the North Atlantic.

The photograph is inscribed with the latitude and longitude and the date it was taken. It is purported to be the same iceberg that caused the Titanic disaster; the shape does correspond closely to sketches of the iceberg made by the survivors. Several copies were made at the time and have

been seen over the years, but few have ever made the auction rooms. What is it worth? £2,000? £3,000? Maybe more.

The provenance is good, having been in the same naval family for two generations. The auction result will be in the next issue.

Our auction rooms continue to be busy all the time and to keep in touch with us you can follow us on Twitter @CatoCrane or see our new video on our website www.catocrane.co.uk or telephone our auction rooms on 0151 709 5559.

And finally, over Christmas, I resorted to using recipes from an early edition of Mrs Isabella Beeton’s well-known volume of Household Management, c1900, to prepare food for friends and visitors to Cato Towers.

Happy antique hunting to you all and may I send a special wish to each and every one of my readers for a happy New Year and may we all wish for a peaceful world in 2015.

For further information visit www.catocrane.co.uk

Mrs. Beeton’s Christmas

38 The Lake 2. Workout as part of a group Working out with like-minded people is a great way to stay motivated. Seeing similar people achieve fantastic results shows that you can do it too. Group workouts can be great fun so you don’t feel like it’s an effort to join in.

3. Have an accountability partner

BEFORE

AFTER

Pick someone whose goals and lifestyle is very similar to your own. Set your goals together and arrange to check in regularly with each other. Let each other know what you have done to help you achieve your goals. We use methods such as these in the Fitness Queen programme. Members get better results and stay more focused when partnered up.

4. Track your progress There are a number of ways you can track your progress depending on your goals. You could take a ‘before’ picture to compare your body shape to when you started. Do a fitness test at the start and again eight weeks later so you can see how much you have progressed. Or you could take your measurements at regular intervals, such as every four weeks. We do this on our programme and the members tell us it really helps them to stay on track and make progress. When you can see that you are achieving your goals you are more likely to stick to what you are doing.

Zara Wylie, Head Trainer at Fitness Queen Arrowe Park and West Kirby has transformed her own body shape using the Fitness Queen programme and is now helping others do the same. She launched Fitness Queen Arrowe Park in September and members have seen some amazing results.

Here she takes you through some handy tips to help make this year different and help you achieve your resolutions this year.

Hands up if your New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, tone up or get fit. Hands up if you made the same resolution last year.

But don’t worry – you aren’t alone. Many of us start the year with good intentions, but quickly find that life gets in the way and your resolutions become a forgotten memory.

So here are some handy tips to make this year different and help you achieve your resolutions this year.

1. Set a realistic goal Deciding to lose weight, tone up or get fit is a great plan and you normally start with gusto. Unfortunately, people get disheartened when they don’t see the results they want in a short amount of time. The key is to start by setting yourself a three-week goal.

As it’s a shorter period of time, it’s easy to keep going and monitor results. Once you have reached the end of the three weeks you can set another goal. Treat each goal as a milestone to your ultimate dream.

Would you like to feel nutritionally educated, motivated and inspired to be the best possible version of yourself? Fitness Queen is the fastest growing women’s only shape-up programme in Wirral. We use full body workouts and a nutritional plan that helps you shift fat fast!

Plus you get all the benefits of a Personal Trainer with the fun of a group workout.

We offer a FREE WEEK TRIAL too!

Sessions run in Arrowe Park, Heswall and West Kirby. We have both indoor and outdoor sessions. For more information, and to claim a free trial, contact Zara quoting The Lake.

We are offering full body analysis throughout January/February and progress tracking to help you stay on track and not only achieve your goals, but take them to a whole new level!

Email: zara.wylie@gmail.com Mobile: 07702 844984 Facebook: fitness queen Twitter: @fitnessqueenuk Website: www.wirralfitness.info

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