Issue 13 • March/April 2015
The local interest magazine for West Kirby, Hoylake, Meols and Caldy
Peregrinations from Afar • Under the Hedge • Family Connections • The Wirral Derby
Welcome to the thirteenth 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.
Contacts: Editor Jonathan Bion 07796 945745 jon@lakemagazine.co.uk
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
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 The Crescent Addendum
24 Under the Hedge
08 West Kirby’s Boutique Shopping
26 Family Connections
09 Caldy Village Garden Opening
30 The Wirral Derby
12 Eggstraordinary Easter Journey
32 West Kirby Museum
16 Acres Road Playing Fields
34 10 Top tips for CVs
18 Peregrinations from Afar
35 Shorelines
20 West Kirby Sailing Club
36 Under the Gavel
22 Photographer Karen Lawrence
38 Fitness Queen
WIN
A pair of tickets for ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ by Hillbark Players
See page 35
04 The Lake
The Crescent Addendum
Reface Not Replace Fed up with the dated look of your old kitchen or just keen to put your own stamp on a property? Then what’s better than a complete kitchen makeover? Although wouldn’t it be great if you could do it all in just a day or so, without the demolition, dust, debris and disruption. Well you can! There are not that many options for an instant kitchen makeover, but Granite Transformations can offer exactly that. We can reface your existing work surfaces with beautiful new worktops made from Italian granite, quartz, porcelain or recycled glass, in a single day, thanks to the unique ‘TOP THAT FITS ON TOP’. It’s a tough, slimline material that’s installed neatly over most surfaces.
Many thanks to everyone who has contacted me about the Jones & Company Limited article published in the last issue. I have been fortunate enough to make contact with the granddaughter of Thomas Frederick Jones, Pamela Hughes. I have not been in contact with Pamela since my West Kirby Swimming Club days in the 1960s. The wonderful thing about local history is that you are constantly learning and finding new information. In the article in the last issue I mentioned that The Crescent was built following the opening of the Christian Institute in 1892. Further research has uncovered a 1887 newspaper article mentioning a new road in West Kirby called The Crescent, and a subsequent article outlining the coming of age party of Egerton Cummings Macdona at the Tynwald Hall (it later became the Blenheim ballroom) in 1888. One reader mentioned that he remembered a central light, suspended from a wire across The Crescent and also a wall light. I found a photograph detailing the lighting, exactly as he described it. Heather Chapman
Your new surfaces are fabricated locally in Ellesmere Port and we bring them out to your home ready to install – usually within one day, using our own fitters. We don’t touch your tiling, there’s no replastering; we simply disconnect the sink and hob*, fix our surfaces over your worktops and refit the sink and hob. We can also fabricate splashbacks or smaller upstands in the same granite. Don’t forget your doors, sink and appliances! We offer an extensive range of replacement doors in a choice of high gloss acrylic surfaces, or plain or embellished woodgrains in a wide variety of styles along with a range of handles. SO, LET US TELL YOU A LITTLE MORE Why reface rather than replace? Well, apart from the savings you’ll make by not replacing kitchen cabinet carcases that are likely to be still serviceable, refacing reduces by as much as 75% the amount of waste material that would otherwise go to landfill sites. So you are saving money and saving the environment too. Granite Transformations worktops are also fully resilient to knocks and scratches. The aftercare is minimal with no need to seal the product every few months and with simple, proper care it will retain its stunning look for years to come. Choose any one of our surfaces luxurious, diamond-polished finishes in a vast array of shades to suit your existing decor. Our surfaces are also perfect for bathrooms, be it a vanity unit, shower cubicle or wet room and all can be complemented by our choice of stunning hand-cut glass mosaic tiles. * We will arrange for a registered gas safe engineer to disconnect and reconnect gas appliances. The customer is responsible for paying the engineer direct.
Come and visit the showroom in Gordale Garden Centre, Chester High Road, Burton, CH64 8TF, or visit the website at www.granitetransformations.co.uk /burton Telephone 01244 645 946 for a free, no obligation quotation. You can also find us at the Chester Food Drink & Lifestyle Festival at Chester Racecourse 4th, 5th and 6th April.
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 is 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. “This has the further advantage of 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!”
The Lake 07
08 The Lake
Robert Foster on West Kirby’s Independent Retail Culture... Those with their finger on the pulse will be well aware of the boom in all things unique within the retail world. As consumers demand more, pockets of artisan entrepreneurs are luring shoppers away from the mainstream and into the world of independent retail culture. Some may be reluctant to swap the predictability of the megastore for the boldness of the boutique, but those who dare to be different need look no further than our very own West Kirby. When it comes to boutique shopping, West Kirby is punching above its weight. Dotted amongst the cafés, bars and restaurants are an array of retail outlets that combine innovation, hard work and passion to provide a captivating shopping experience for the discerning customer. Many visit our town to take in the fresh sea air or stride out to Hilbre, only to have their eyes opened by the quality of the shopping on offer. There is no denying the variety that boutique shops bring. Stroll down Banks Road on a Saturday afternoon and you will find everything from upmarket clothing stores that ooze glamour and style to Aladdin’s caves full of quirky curios that leave you feeling as if you have slipped back in time. However, despite differences in appearances, each of these little treasures share the desire to put the customer first and provide a quality service; it’s no wonder they draw people in like bees to honey.
To me, the joy of boutique culture is the personal touch. From the founder’s initial flash of inspiration, these shops have slowly risen, fuelled by determination and hard work. It’s clear these stores are built on their owners’ genuine passion for their chosen specialism. Each proprietor knows their niche inside out and will go above and beyond to ensure their customers receive quality goods. Independent stores rely on a good reputation, so there is no room for poor customer service or substandard products. Whilst the vision and endeavour of the store owners may never equate to riches, I doubt that matters to most.
The uninitiated could be forgiven for assuming independent shops come with extortionate price tags. Of course some stores specialise in high-end goods, but even these offer remarkable value considering the quality on offer. By their very nature, small shops must be competitive to survive; luckily our astute shopkeepers recognise that customers demand value and choice in the modern world of internet shopping, meaning bargains are often there for the taking!
With weekends becoming more precious as the pressures of work dominate our lives, shopping is often considered a chore best avoided unless essential. Many remain sceptical of the notion of retail therapy, but I challenge anyone to explore these little gems and not be pleasantly surprised by the experience. I for one cannot get enough of the absorbing atmosphere our thriving local retail community has to offer, and I know that I’m not alone.
The Lake 09
Caldy Village Garden Opening Come and have tea and cakes in Caldy Village on Bank Holiday Sunday, May 24th, and take the opportunity to walk round a dozen or more interesting gardens as well. The gardens will be open from 2pm to 6pm. Tickets and maps will be on sale at Manor Farm, 100 Caldy Road, and at Simonsfield, 36 Barton Hey Drive, plus an extra selling point at the junction of Links Hey Road and Croft Drive East. Tea with home-made cake will be served at both Manor Farm and Simonsfield. There will be a plant sale at Inglewood, Caldy Road, as well as some small plants and seeds on sale in many of the other gardens. Tickets, which include tea, are £7 in advance or £8 on the day. The event is a month earlier than in most years, to give repeat visitors an opportunity to see a different selection of plants at their best in the village gardens. Further details are available on the Open Gardens UK National Directory website (www.opengardens.co.uk), from NWCR HQ on 0151 709 2919 or by email at simonsfield@btinternet.com, where advance tickets will also be available after Easter. Posters will also be on display from mid-April in local shops, libraries and garden centres giving more information. North West Cancer Research has benefitted by over £40,000 in the last seven years from this popular event – all proceeds go straight to them, so please come and help to make this year a specially profitable one for them.
ADVERTISING FEATURE
In Profile: Margaret Greenwood Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Wirral West
Margaret out campaigning on Carpenters Lane in West Kirby
Since 2013 I’ve been out knocking on doors across Hoylake and West Kirby, from Acacia Grove to Springfield Avenue. I am running an old-fashioned campaign that understands there is nothing better than good, honest conversations. I have had thousands of meaningful conversations. Conversations that I want to take with me to Westminster. One thing that has been raised time and again on the doorstep is the National Health Service and concerns that Arrowe Park is struggling to cope. Operations are being cancelled, waiting times are through the roof and as recently as December, health watchdogs told Arrowe Park Hospital it had failed to meet standards in all five key areas. This isn’t good enough for our area.
And, that is why NHS workers and GPs across Wirral and Merseyside are backing Labour. They know that the NHS won’t survive five more years of the Tories. Labour will give our NHS time to care. We will fund 20,000 more nurses, 8,000 more GPs and 6,000 more midwives. We will bring back the 48-hour guarantee to see your GP that the Tories scrapped – something that has been highlighted amongst residents as one of the most important issues in Hoylake and West Kirby. This will relieve pressure from A&E and our walk-in centres and allow the hard-working staff at Arrowe Park the time they need to care properly for our loved ones.
I don’t believe for a second that this is the fault of the hard-working staff at the hospital. They, like you, have been let down by this Tory-led Government who wasted £3 billion on an unnecessary and unwanted top-down reorganisation. How short-sighted that to pay for this they cut the numbers of front line staff by thousands? This is why I am standing for Labour in May. Margaret and Ed Balls, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, listening to concerns of local businesses
I will stand up for what’s right for the people of West Wirral, championing local causes. Saving Hilbre Island and the Dee from the threat of Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) is crucial, and residents can trust me to put their concerns first. It worries me that the boss of the UCG company has donated to the Tory Party and has stood for election to be a Tory MP. To stop UCG, west Wirral needs a Labour MP who will stand up against vested interests to protect our environment, the quality of life, the local economy and property prices. On May 7th the choice is clear: if you want more doctors, nurses and police officers, and you want Hilbre Island and the Dee protected from UCG, vote Margaret Greenwood. Vote Labour. If you would like to contact me, please call 07969 674 127 or email mail@margaretgreenwood.org.uk With endorser, Sir Tony Robinson
On top of this, the Tories are renewing their attacks on Wirral police with £100 million cuts to the Merseyside police budget. This irresponsible Tory plan will put Wirral at risk. If driven through, neighbourhood policing will be decimated. We have already lost 1,200 staff, including 516 police officers since 2010. The Tories need to focus on cutting crime, not police. That is why Labour would invest £250 million in front line policing by reducing back office and procurement costs, making our communities safer.
Talking to voters in Hoylake
Margaret campaigning with North Wales MP, David Hanson, against UCG in the Dee Estuary
12 The Lake
OUR SUCCESS IS BASED ON THREE IMPORTANT FACTORS
Eggstraordinary Easter Journey at West Kirby Methodist Church
Product Range We select our products and suppliers very carefully on the basis of quality, range, price and reputation.
Staff Our team of well-trained and motivated employees is dedicated to ensuring that our customers enjoy the best possible service.
Service We know that speed and accuracy of delivery are important, that is why we have invested in a delivery fleet that provides a fast same day FREE delivery service.
Our comprehensive knowledge of the motor parts industry coupled with, the widest possible range from the best suppliers mean that we can guarantee a price that is always competitive.
jim barrow 8 Durley Park Close, North CheshireTrading Estate, Wirral CH43 3DE
TELEPHONE 0151 609 0609
www.jimbarrow.co.uk
Spring is Sprung by Paul Albertella
A highlight of the Easter celebrations at West Kirby Methodist Church will be the Eggstraordinary Easter Journey on Sunday 5th April at 5pm. Using paint, paper, jigsaws and, of course, chocolate, the Eggstraordinary Journey will take travellers from Palm Sunday to Easter Day, stopping off at Maundy Thursday and Good Friday along the way. The story will be told using stories and songs in an informal and relaxed setting. All ages are welcome to this free event, which is expected to last about an hour. Tea, coffee and juice will be available during the journey. Other Easter Services at the church include 10.30am and 6.30pm services on Palm Sunday (29th March), a Passover Meal at 7pm on Maundy Thursday (2nd April), a Service of Meditation at 3pm on Good Friday (3rd April) and Holy Communion at 10.30am on Easter Day (Sunday 5th April). West Kirby Methodist Church is on Westbourne Road in West Kirby. Further details about the church and its current activities are available on the church website www.westkirbymethodist.org or by calling Graham on 07802 462 682.
The Lake 13
Special Exhibition 2015 – Soap & Water As part of the Liverpool City Region’s celebration of the 175th anniversary of Cunard Line and its first transatlantic passage, Port Sunlight Museum is launching a special exhibition on the theme of water on International Water Day, Sunday 22nd March 2015, ‘Soap & Water’. Port Sunlight is today one of the top destinations for visitors sailing into Liverpool on the major passenger liners, and from the newly opened Port Sunlight River Park on the banks of the Mersey it is now once again possible to view the full scope of William Hesketh Lever’s vision for the area. Water has been an essential ingredient of the Port Sunlight story, from its use in the manufacture of soap, the reclamation of the land that the village is built on, to the River Mersey supporting the trade and industry that allowed the Lever Brothers’ business to flourish. The exhibition will also tell the story of Lever’s own seafaring adventures, how he utilised and managed water, and how he turned a small piece of marshland into a thriving business and settlement that eventually housed the largest private dock in the world.
14 The Lake
OVEN ACE NW Oven and Appliance Cleaning Experts
THE PERFECT EASTER GIFT FOR MUM As well as cookers we also clean extractor fans, microwaves, Ranges, Agas. BBQs, white goods including fridges, freezers, washing machines and dishwashers.
Call 0151 645 2476 or 07707 075 541 Email: ovenace@googlemail.com www.ovenace.com
Hoylake and Meols in Bloom Village Planting May 16th (Saturday) De-planting the 11 brick planters (outside Home & Bargain) - This involves removing all the winter planting and preparing them for the summer planting. June 6th (Saturday) Planting the 11 brick planters - We are planting non-Stop Begonias which always seem to do well in these planters. They are pretty drought resistant, but still need watering once a week. We really could do with some extra help with this (we have water containers and caravan aqua rolls). Any volunteers?
Does Social Media float your business boat? Did you know that 74% of consumers are influenced by social media for their purchasing decisions? Businesses not using social media effectively are losing out to those who are – check out your competition! For more details, please, email us today. Quote Lake 0315 to receive a 10% discount off usual rates.
Telephone: 07742 664662 Email: guy@mymarketingguy.co.uk Web: www.mymarketingguy.co.uk
As part of a new five-year management plan for Queens Park, the friends with Wirral Council are planting a 41 metre long Nepeta Six Hills Giant Hedge along a somewhat barren bank running alongside the right-hand side of the bowling green. When mature, the hedge will be a stunning display requiring very little maintenance. The Council’s Parks Service have thankfully offered to do the hard work by digging a ditch to plant them in, but we really need some extra volunteers to help plant them probably in late March. Please get in touch if you can help. For further details telephone Jan on 07725 540049 or email contact@hoylakeinbloom.co.uk
16 The Lake
Improvement works begin at Acres Road Playing Fields
Grassroots sport in Merseyside is set to benefit from a major boost following the start of works at AC Hoylake FC, following the award of a £94,429 grant from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund in order to complete major improvement works to the facilities at Acres Road Playing Fields. As a result of this generous funding, the site will become the central hub for AC Hoylake FC, who currently operate 19 junior teams, allowing players, coaches and parents to get involved in grassroots football in a safe and comfortable environment. The improvements will also allow the club to form closer links with local schools and expand the role of the club within the community. The project involves the refurbishment of the changing room pavilion, so that it will comprise two large changing rooms, an officials’ room, spectator toilets and plant storage. The real grass pitches at the site will also undergo renovation, and pitch
maintenance equipment will be purchased in order to improve playing surface quality at the site. Acres Road has suffered consistently in recent years from waterlogging, due to a lack of drainage and adequate pitch maintenance. The funding will also enable a new entrance gate to be installed. The Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund is funded by the Premier League, The FA, and the Government, via Sport England. It is delivered by the Football Foundation, the country’s largest sports charity. Since it was launched in 2000, the Foundation has awarded around 13,000 grants worth more than £510m towards improving grassroots sport, which it has used to attract additional partnership funding of over £720m – over £1.2bn of investment into the grassroots game. By providing more high-quality facilities, coupled with coaching at the appropriate age group, the Premier League and The FA
Facilities Fund aims to improve the experience for regular players as well as attracting new players to the game. Many of the new state-of-the-art facilities will serve to strengthen the connection between professional football clubs and their local communities, particularly in the most deprived areas of the country, through the professional clubs’ community trusts’ outreach work. Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “Congratulations should go to AC Hoylake FC for working with the Cheshire FA to secure this Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund grant. “Since 2000, the Foundation has awarded 171 grants worth £9.3m across Cheshire FA towards grassroots sports projects worth nearly £18.8m with money generously provided by our funders: the Premier League, The FA and the Government, via Sport England.”
The Lake 17
Destination Anywhere Celebrate 11 Years Destination Anywhere celebrate their 11th Birthday at the end of March. This award winning independent agency, based in Milner Road (opposite Windsors garage) in Heswall, threw a lavish party at Thornton Manor last year. Director Sally Hislop, tells us that although they wont be celebrating in such style this year, they do have some great offers to coincide with their birthday. One of the reasons for Destination Anywhere’s success in such a competitive world, is the strength of their team. Sally along with Chris Earlam and Janet Blair who have been with the company for 7 years, are all extremely well travelled. They enjoy
offering excellent service and constantly try to exceed customers expectations. They are not fazed by any requests and enjoy sending clients to far flung corners of the world, Bangladesh, Myanamar, Bhutan, Madagascar, Falkland Islands, Raratonga and Easter Island being some of the latest adventures planned. Destination Anywhere are proud to be the only AITO Specialist Travel Agent on the Wirral. Members are totally independent of all the major UK travel groups and offer a range of specialist products not generally available through the large High Street travel agency chains.
The team at Destination Anywhere would be delighted to hear from you. 0151 342 2244 or pop in for a coffee at 21 Milner Road, Heswall.
Luxury on offer Indian Summers Tour Channel 4’s new historical drama, Indian Summers set in Shimla is being touted in the media as “Downton Abbey goes to India”. This Indian Summers tour recreates a bygone era of elegant travel, including flights, fabulous hotels and a private car with driver/guide.
Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru Stay 7 nights pay for 5 and complimentary Half Board. Save £2,740 per couple Included: • Economy flights • Seaplane transfers • 7 nights in a Beach Bungalow with Pool • Breakfast and Dinner Prices from £3,195 per person Offer valid for travel during the following dates: 11 May 2015 to 31 July 2015 and 1 September 2015 to 30 September 2015.
Using luxurious properties such as Claridges, Oberoi and Fairmont, this classic Golden Triangle tour (Delhi, Agra for the Taj Mahal and Jaipur) is combined with a three night extension to Shimla - the historic mountain resort that the British Raj decamped to during the hot Indian summers. You will experience a narrow gauge mountain rail journey in Shimla, a rail trip from Kalka to Delhi and Emirates flights from and to Manchester. Prices from £1995 per person.
Mykonos Grace Complimentary Night & Added Value Save up to £425 per couple Stay 7 nights, pay for 6 and receive one complimentary 30 minutes massage per person per stay. Also included: • 7 nights in a Deluxe Room • Return economy flights from UK • Return private transfers • Bed & Breakfast basis Prices from £790pp Based on 2 people sharing. Offer valid for travel during the following dates: 8 April to 21 May 2015 and 28 September to 17th October 2015.
DESTINATION:ANYWHERE The Travel Lounge, Milner Road, Heswall, Wirral CH60 5RT Telephone: 0151 342 2244 • Email: sales@destinationanywhere.co.uk www.destinationanywhere.co.uk All offers subject to availability and based on 2 travelling from UK airport. Offers must be booked by 31.3.15. For further details or other offers please contact us.
18 The Lake
Peregrinations from Afar This series of short articles by Rastus, looks at West Kirby Newspaper Jottings from The Cheshire Observer in 1899. Preface “The lake maketh the town” – how often have we heard our parents and grandparents utter these prophetic words. As an ex-West Kirbyite returning for a short holiday after years of exile, these words now really mean even more to me than when I was a childhood resident. Little did our forward-thinking Hoylake and West Kirby Local Council of the late 19th century realise how their brave and courageous decision to build a sea wall, creating a permanent lake with a nearly mile-long promenade on the front in West Kirby, would leave such a wonderful and much appreciated lasting legacy for future generations. This permanent water frontage is a focal point of West Kirby producing a ‘moving picture’. No two days are ever the same. The lake can be millpond calm with hardly a ripple, when every pebble and shell on the sandy bed is countable, to – often on the same day – waves in sheets of spray lashing over the promenade under heavy winds. Perhaps the most eerie sight is at high tide when the tidal waters gently lap onto the lake wall. Visitors relaxing on the promenade can be excused for thinking that people are walking on water in ‘magical’ West Kirby. As for the sunsets – these must be some of the most spectacular on our planet – yachts on the marine lake in the setting sun offer marvellous and world-famous photographic and painting opportunities.
West Kirby Marine Lake – a legacy from our Council (1899) Little did this West Kirby jotter realise the true prophecy of his words: “The new marine lake is now an accomplished fact. Let us hope that it will now be a thing of beauty for ever. The high tides have filled it to the brim, and the water delightfully runs over with the slightest puff of wind, and anyone attempting to walk round the lake does so with wet shoes, and perhaps wet feet. The opening day on the 14th [October 1899], is looked forward to with great interest.” The planning and construction of the lake was not always plain sailing [sic] as the following jottings attest: “Perhaps it is a pity that West Kirby and Hoylake were joined together as an urban district. The result has been to the neglect of one or the disadvantage of the other in many of the Council’s undertakings and they would be much better looked after by separate councils, though, of course there would be the cost of separate establishments for management purposes to be considered. But as things are West Kirby is certainly the sufferer…in the matter of the construction of the new marine lake. Instead of carrying the lake embankment out to the landmark, where there is a natural foundation of rock, by some altogether unintelligible reasoning of the District Council are proceeding to construct an embankment many yards away from the rock which will have nothing but sand for its bed, and must consequently be more difficult to protect against the violent spring tides which are affected by the strong
north-westerly and south-westerly winds so much felt in the district. Besides so considerably restricting the water area and reducing the value of the lake, the present plan seems to be one that will entail an unnecessary expense upon the rate-payers for maintenance, which should be avoided or much reduced if the embankment were extended to the rock.” The plea by the jotter: “Rouse up ye West Kirby people before it is too late, and protest to the District Council against this short-sighted policy, and have a marine lake that will be worth calling a lake, for such it would be extended to the landmark! Call upon your member, Sand Lea Jones to act vigorously.” It must have had the desired effect and “Sand Lea” Jones [William Alfred Jones was a local councillor who lived at Sandlea House] prevailed: “The agitation about the smallness of the lake has resulted in the extension for another 170 yards, and so it will, when completed, be about 150 yards wide and 1,300 yards long, or almost the entire length of the new promenade. West Kirbyites will be pleased with this result to the effort of a few, and they will now have a fairly good sheet of water for regatta purposes. When the work is finished the lake must vastly improve the position of West Kirby in a commercial sense, but let us hope that everything possible will be done by the U.D.C. to preserve the salubrity of the place by attention to sanitary requirements of the place and street cleaning…The “Sand Lea” member has done his best by using his efforts in this direction.”
The marine lake and promenade have always been close to my heart and when I was offered a collection of local newspaper cuttings from 1899 demonstrating the busy, vibrant and, I must say, happy West Kirby community, I was tempted to share them with you. I make no excuses for using the author’s words from the “Jottings” – they are brilliant and something that I could not even attempt to aspire to with any confidence. My “Peregrinations” encapsulate these jottings. The six articles in this series discuss the completion of the West Kirby Marine Lake and Promenade, the opening ceremony and festivities and anecdotes of what it was like to be a West Kirbyite in those exciting times. Enjoy!
Tell’s Tower Marine Parade and Breakwater 1885
The Lake 19 Many other considerations needed to be pondered during the construction phase before the lake was finally opened to the public: “West Kirbyites will be the happy inhabitants of a town by the water, if not exactly by the sea, for it must be remembered when the tide is really out at this salubrious spot, you have a stretch of sand of about two miles to the water. That the lake will be a great acquisition to the town goes without saying, but let us hope that the District Council will see to it in time that proper regulations are made for the use of boats and bathing, and protection of persons taking advantage of the new privileges.” As for a Sailing Club House: “Speaking of the lake, it is greatly appreciated, but its usefulness will be much lessened if the promised boathouse is not to be erected.” Of course, consideration must always – then and now – be given to public safety: “By-the-way, talking of the lake, we should like to see some provision of life-saving apparatus for possibilities which might
happen. Others than children, who cannot swim, could easily be drowned in less than 5ft. of water, and certainly when there is not even a lifebuoy at hand. There is quite the likelihood of a case for the coroner, even, because of a handsome marine lake without and protection and life-saving things.” Our forward-thinking Council even had visions for the future in 1899: “Perhaps some day there may be a lake or lakes with short intervals, all the way to Hoylake: and then! and then! As it is, the present West Kirby lake, or the one that is to be, will cover an area of about 50 acres, extending quite half a mile along the shores.” Nowadays few things in life are free. Thank goodness the pure joy of walking and ‘taking in the seaside airs’ and enjoying the continuously changing landscape has not yet been taxed. To this end, one hundred and sixteen years later we still enjoy wet shoes and wet feet walking round this wonderful legacy from a forward-thinking Council. Thank you for your foresight.
1871 West Kirby without lake
Next Peregrination: Opening Day – Patriotic Displays at West Kirby Marine Lake.
Regular Housework • Spring & Emergency Cleaning Cleaning of Business Premises • Ironing & Laundry Carpet Cleaning • Upholstery Cleaning
Call NOW for a FREE quote 29 Village Road, Lower Heswall CH60 0DX Tel. 0151 342 9780 • Mob. 07590 297504 Email. popwirral@hotmail.com Web. poppiesofwirral.co.uk
Ride on mower hire
ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS HERE FOR JUST £45 + VAT
Our distribution covers over 12,000 homes and businesses in West Kirby, Hoylake, Meols and Caldy
wirralmowerhire@yahoo.com Mobile: 0791 983 2568
CONTACT ALAN Tel: 07788 510868 Email: alan@lakemagazine.co.uk
20 The Lake
West Kirby Sailing Club A Busy New Year By Phil Shepherd British Universities Northern Qualifier Sixteen teams competed at West Kirby for places in the British University Team Racing Championships Final at Nottingham in the spring. The weather for the (previously postponed) event was excellent, providing the opportunity for every team to race against each other in a round robin over two days. It was a pleasure to host this qualifier and to provide some great competition for the students, who were of mixed sailing experience but all very keen. The competitors and, indeed, the umpires, were accommodated at members’ homes to help make them all welcome. It is the umpires who make such a difference to team racing so that decisions about rule infringements are made instantly and penalty turns taken to exonerate these. But a whole team of race officers, rib drivers, and a beach party are required to look after the boats, caterers, and starters and finishers, and to ensure the smooth running of all these races. Very quickly the top teams became evident, but that meant some ferocious competition by the students who were on the fringe of making the cut.
In the end, Durham, Newcastle and our West Kirby-based teams of Manchester and Liverpool made the grade though the latter have to go to a play-off event at Cardiff. Feva Open Event Gill Hall has begun her captaincy of the growing Feva class with an event comprising four races sailed through a range of rising wind strengths. These are robust modern asymmetric boats, which are relatively easy for the juniors to handle in the strong wind conditions which the day saw. The youths are pretty fearless on the water but we certainly saw the Fevas at their best on the plane, spray pelting away from them as they sped across the lake. Everyone had a fantastic day and there was a real buzz in the clubhouse afterwards. Results: 1st – Alex Williams and Rob Giardelli, WKSC 2nd – Alex and James Colquitt, WKSC 3rd – Rohan Murphy and Ruben Copley, South Windermere Yacht Club And the most hotly contested prize, for best capsize of the day was won by another visiting boat, India Edwards and Finn Maaver, though the judges were kept busy!
Winter Race Series In February and March we keep the most ardent club dinghy racers busy with a series which is great fun and enables them to experience the changeable weather that is Britain. In the first race, we couldn’t even see the marks because of the fog; in the second, a gentle breeze became a heavy battle for survival, and in the third, icebergs posed the greatest risk. Who knows, we may get sunshine soon?
The Lake 21 Training Lots going on and lots being prepared under the guidance of our new Training Officer Steven Jardine. Onboard, our junior beginner training on Saturdays, for members and non-members, will continue. The Optimist fleet is undergoing a resurgence under Mark Creasey’s captaincy, with 17 boats, many of them belonging to the club, already signed up to a programme which has been developed with two dedicated coaches. Cadets have been busy over the winter with 17 boats coached by a fantastic team led by Paul Colquitt. Their progression and racing this year will be amazing. Fevas are a growing fleet and we hope to acquire some new club boats to encourage them.
Fireflies have been busy, with a team of our juniors about to enter the Ladies Team Racing National Championships, and Manchester and Liverpool universities taking advantage of the base that we offer them. Monday nights will again be for Adult Beginners and Improvers, following last year’s major success, and we will also have an introduction to racing. A Sport England grant has enabled the purchase of two new larger training boats. Saturday afternoons are going to be used for family sailing as we find very often that it is not always the experienced parents who encourage their families, but novice children who start to sail, love it, and we want to find ways for the parents to join in. This will also be an opportunity for progression into senior fleets, and for participation by members of Wirral Disabled Marine Association, who we are keen to help.
Boatshed So much for the sailing. In the winter months, it is the boatsheds where a lot happens. Gerald Riley leads an experienced team of Hilbre and Star owners and crew who dedicate time to refurbishing these traditional old wooden racing fleets, while our boatmen prepare the ribs and committee boats for the season ahead. Contact Phil Shepherd, Commodore 0151 625 5579, office@wksc.org.uk Forthcoming Events 31st March – start of season racing 8–10th May – Wilson Trophy 3–5th July – 100th Regatta
22 The Lake
Local photographer Karen Lawrence tells The Lake readers about her work After leaving school, I went to art college. As part of my course, I was handed a camera and taught how to develop film – photography soon became a hobby. About four years ago, I borrowed a Nikon D60 DSLR and really liked the results I got with a digital camera so I bought my own Nikon D3100 along with a 200mm lens. I wanted to learn how to use it properly and began to teach myself. Reading everything I could find in magazines and online, I practised every day using different techniques and styles. I even took a short course with one of the amateur photography magazines, specifically for their feedback and advice. I prefer taking landscape and nature photographs. Taking my time over landscape photographs means I can find the best angle to recreate the image I have in mind. When I’m taking nature photographs, I get a lot of satisfaction from capturing a shot of a darting bird or shy squirrel. After about a year I felt that my D3100 wasn’t sophisticated enough – it wasn’t advanced enough to do the things I needed, so I upgraded to a D7000 with a 50mm prime lens, 300mm telephoto lens and a tripod. I then started to enter competitions and won the people’s choice award in the ‘Life Through a Lens’ photo competition in 2012. I’ve also had a piece of work featured in the ‘Art Takes Times Square’ exhibition in New
York – my image was placed on one of the main billboards in Times Square and the event was filmed and placed on YouTube. I was also published in the coffee table book that featured the artists exhibited. Locally, I’ve taken part in Wirral Festival of Firsts, and last year my entry into the Hoylake Gallery photo competition won a silver award. I have also exhibited in the Williamson Art Gallery, and received many awards online. As my confidence has grown, so has my belief in myself. After my husband retired from work, I decided to move forward and start selling my work on the internet – last year I also began to sell at craft fairs and artisan markets. This year, I’m taking a really big step and starting a business – SMPhotography. I’ll be exhibiting at the Liverpool contemporary art fair in June, at Blue Moon Framing and Gallery, also in June, selling at the Cheshire Oaks pop-up shop in May, and at various artisan markets and craft fairs in Liverpool and Wirral. Karen lives in West Kirby with her family and cat. Website: karen-lawrence.artistwebsites.com Flickr: www.flickr.com/people/klawrenceuk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ KarenLawrencePhotography Twitter: @Joefishy
The Lake 23
24 The Lake
Local Wildlife Under the Hedge By Matt Thomas I am a fan of the winter. I love the wildlife that it brings. Each year I look forward to the coming of flocks of Knots to the estuary. I try to predict when the first Redwings and Fieldfares will arrive on the berry-rich hedgerows of the Wirral Way. If Waxwings put in an appearance, then that is the icing on the winter cake. However, by the end of February I am craving spring. The rising temperatures and the longer days feel so good after the nagging cold and dimness of the chilly season. Spring brings its own special wildlife too. An army of frogs will advance on their breeding pools to turn the water to jelly with their spawn, singing Skylarks will bring sound to meadows that have been muffled by winter and the first green shoots will push through the fertile brown earth. So I am out early to get my first fix of spring nature and I head to where I know I have a good chance of finding some inspiring wildlife – the Wirral Way around Thurstaston. Here there are hedgerows for nesting birds, ponds for the frog frenzy and meadows for Skylarks. I am wandering along with an open mind and an empty memory card in the camera, waiting for whatever signs of spring come my way. The weather is benign for once, the wind is light and the sky clear and a beautiful shade of cobalt blue. The sun is warm on my back, the first real warmth I have felt from it this year. There is a feeling that nature is starting to reawaken, a feeling of promise, of new beginnings. To my left, in a farmer’s field a Skylark starts to call. I quickly locate it as it starts to rise vertically over its territory, the sweet song underlining the spring feeling. It is too far away to photograph so I simply watch and listen. Soon it is too high to pick it out, diminishing to a tiny speck in the blueness above. All the while it is singing, it is the only sound and quite mesmerising. A movement catches my eye and breaks the spell of the Skylark’s song. I don’t know how long I had been transfixed by it, possibly several minutes. Skylarks can sing while breathing in as well as out, so they can hold a tune almost indefinitely. It occurs to me that I must have looked a little odd standing motionless on the path staring into the wide blue yonder. Luckily it is still early and I think I am the only one around. I search for what grabbed my attention in the field. The previous autumn was a warm one; the winter sown crops have had a good start and are quite tall. This is making it hard to spot things that lurk within them. Fortunately what had caught my eye moves again… a Brown Hare.
This is a bonus. I was expecting to see the Skylarks and find some frogspawn, but you can’t guarantee seeing hares each time you wander this way. They can be shy too, making them a hard subject to photograph. I press my binoculars to my eyes and watch as it picks its way around the field, between plants and along ploughed furrows. For most of the time I am with it, all I can see are its big floppy ears protruding above the growing crops. This kind of view is the one I’m most familiar with, that or one where the hare is running at top speed away from me towards the hedgerow, out of sight and out of range of my camera.
Pictures of this mammal are going to take patience. After a while watching them, I decide on a hiding place in a drainage ditch beneath one of the giant hedgerows that flank the farmland where the hares are feeding. Concealed in my damp and muddy corner I wait… And wait… And wait. I watch them feed then lie down in their ‘forms’ – a shallow depression in the fields – where they rest for most of the day. Sometimes they would be startled by something and go pelting off across the field and I could see just how swift they are. They can reach speeds in excess of 30 miles per hour when fleeing from predators. Occasionally they
The Lake 25
would start to indulge in some classic spring hare behaviour – boxing. This happens when males attempt to mate with females who are not yet ready to conceive. The feisty females repel their advances with a few sharp blows to the head that can leave the odd mark on the male’s ears. Over a few days, I return to my spot under the hedge to see if I can get some pictures of the hares. On a couple of occasions I have to explain to concerned/perturbed passers-by what it is I am doing hunched
in a ditch beneath the hawthorns. With the hares sometimes difficult to spot, I can see why what I am doing isn’t immediately obvious. After a while I start to feel quite at home under the hedge. I see lots of other spring wildlife while I am waiting for the hares to perform. Chaffinches are displaying, males singing loudly from prominent perches. Chiffchaffs are arriving for the summer, and the blossoms of the blackthorns that mingle with the hawthorns in this hedge are starting to bloom.
Then one morning I get my close encounter with the hares. One has hopped through the hedge into the field I am watching. It starts to wander along the margin of the field in my direction. I think that this could be my opportunity so I ready the camera, check the settings and fire off a couple of test exposures. Slowly the hare works its way into range and I take some pictures. They are amazing creatures at close quarters, much bigger than you might expect. Its nose was constantly twitching, sniffing out a tasty green shoot and checking for danger. It must be able to sense me; we are just a few feet apart. I hold my breath. In the quiet, the sound of the shutter on the camera seems like gunshots to me, I’m sure that the hare will bolt each time I press it. However, the hare remains calm and lollops past me. At its closest I can see the hedgerow, my hiding place, reflected in its eye. It is a breathtaking wildlife encounter. The days hunched in the damp ditch have paid off! All too soon the hare has wandered out of view and the spell is broken, but I am left with the images of it saved on my camera’s memory card and the memories etched into my brain. I know I am not going to get better than this so I crawl from under the hedge and leave – with a spring in my step. Matt Thomas www.fromthemuddybanksofthedee.com
26 The Lake
Family Connections The Brosters By Helen Carr Having just been reading about the fabulous new lifeboat Edmund Hawthom Micklewood arriving at Hoylake, set me thinking of times long ago when our family and our farm horses had connections with the lifeboat. My family, the Brosters, lived at 78 Market Street, Hoylake, in the farm cottages joined onto Jessie Bird’s house (where the Co-op is now). Jessie Bird’s house is still there. Our line of Brosters came from Stonehouse Farm, Upton – the big sandstone building at the crossroads by the traffic lights. It used to be a hairdresser’s shop, and still is I think. My great-grandfather Joseph Bedson Broster was born 1858 in Broster’s Farm, 78 Market Street, Hoylake, and died in 1928 in the farm cottages. My grandad Joseph William Broster was born in 1891 at 78 Market Street and died in 1966. They left the farmhouse in 1931. My mother Nellie Broster was born in the farmhouse in 1920. My great-grandfather and my grandfather always had horses. They were known as ‘Team Owners’ and the horses were hired out. These horses were used to help launch
On the left is Stonehouse Farm, Upton c.1904 where the Brosters farmed
the Hoylake lifeboat when the maroon (a firework-like warning device) went up, as did Jessie Bird’s horses – Mr Bird lived next door and had stables at the back. Mum always said that when the maroon went up, if the horses were working in the fields at the back they would stop and turn around and head for the beach. There were quite a few owners in Hoylake who had Shires or Cross Shire horses – horses had to be of a good weight so they would be able to pull the lifeboat. It couldn’t have been down to one person all the time to supply the horses. As seen
Joseph William Broster
in most of the lifeboat photographs, there had to be six to eight horses at a time to launch the boat. It must have been a sight to see and hear when the maroon went up and horses headed down with their handlers, sometimes on their own. The clatter of their hooves on the roads and excited neighing of the horses and shouting of the men. Then when they all gathered they had to be sorted out into pairs. Some horses wouldn’t get on with others or they wouldn’t team up or stand side by side (I know from experience!). There would be stamping of feet, ears laid back, baring of teeth, some people getting stamped on. And, especially in winter, it’s hard trying to put harness on with cold freezing fingers and attach them to chains and traces and then lead the horses down into the cold white foaming sea. And all the time, the poor survivors out in the sea would be waiting and waiting to be rescued. There are some sad incidents to recall. Jessie Bird lost a horse when it rushed down to the sea on a call-out and dropped dead when it arrived at the lifeboat station. The Brosters lost a horse after it had been standing out in the freezing sea after launching the lifeboat. It died a few days later of pneumonia. We also lost a farm dog which had followed my grandfather down to the sea – it was never seen again, so we assumed it had drowned when it couldn’t get back to shore. I am very proud of my family connections with the Hoylake lifeboat, and of the men that put their lives in danger at every call-out in all weather conditions. They would have found it very difficult without the horses to help them. They finally stopped using horses when the tractor arrived in the 1920s.
Joseph Bedson Broster
My admiration goes out to all the men who serve in this superb new lifeboat the Edmund Hawthorn Micklewood.
28 The Lake
V E R T U Antiques & Interiors
The local interest magazine for West Kirby, Hoylake, Meols and Caldy
Could advertising in The Lake help your business? We distribute 12,500 magazines to homes and businesses in the area.
For advertising contact alan@lakemagazine.co.uk or telephone Alan Strange on 07788 510868.
3 Wood St, Hoylake, Wirral CH47 2DU (off Market Street)
WE BUY AND SELL
Antiques for Interiors • Decorative Items French Furniture • Paintings. Mirrors • Retro Furniture Vintage Clothes • Furs and Textiles Call in or phone anytime
07967 431184 • 0151 632 0577 email: angela.duffy@btconnect.com
Open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10.30am–2.30pm Occasional Saturday or by appointment
30 The Lake
The Wirral Derby 1923–1951 By Ryan Ferguson The Merseyside Derby, contested by Liverpool and Everton, is held in high esteem around the world. A feisty battle for the heart of a football-mad city, this passionate encounter rivals the derbies of Milan, Istanbul and Buenos Aires for fame and prestige. Yet few contemporary fans are aware that, for almost three decades between 1923 and 1951, Wirral had two Football League teams and, thus, its own illustrious derby, considered at the time to be one of the most fiercely contested anywhere in Britain. New Brighton AFC and Tranmere Rovers operated barely ten miles apart on the hard-working peninsula, and, in a golden age of football, fought for the attention and loyalty of Wirral’s growing population. Whenever the two teams met, huge crowds were attracted, with the thronging masses often spilling over from the grandstand onto the pitch. The atmosphere was typically vociferous yet good-natured; the games frantic and high-scoring. Quickly, Wirral folk came to adore their famous football rivalry, viewing it as a fine showcase of the borough’s skill and resolve. Tranmere, of course, were the more established club, having been formed, initially as Belmont FC, in 1884. Spawned at the confluence of two local cricket teams eager to adopt football, Tranmere, so named from 1885 onwards, climbed steadily up the ladder after entering a succession of regional competitions, such as the West Lancashire League and ‘The Combination’. By 1921, the club had managed to usurp bitter upstart rivals Birkenhead FC as Wirral’s foremost football power, and create such an impressive footprint as to be voted into the Football League’s freshly established Third Division North.
New Brighton AFC 1936 – Stuart Ashton
That earlier team was created by the owners of the New Brighton tower, a 567-foot tourist attraction in turn-of-the-century Britain, who were eager to boost business during the quiet winter months, and thus built a mammoth, 80,000-capacity stadium hoping to lure a team into playing regularly at the venue. When nobody took the bait, New Brighton Tower FC was formed from the residue of grand ambition; a team of costly former international players competed well with the forebears of Arsenal and Manchester United. However, fan apathy led to financial difficulties and, ultimately, the project’s truncation. In sharp contrast, New Brighton AFC, formed shortly after the tower’s demolition, benefited from instant support, with fans flocking to their Sandheys Park home in unprecedented numbers. When, in October 1923, for instance, Tranmere travelled to New Brighton for Wirral’s first competitive Football League derby match, a raucous crowd of 13,112 awaited. The game was rather anticlimactic, ending in a dour 0–0 draw, but a wonderful time was had by all, and, thus, a rivalry was born.
Just when Rovers began to settle as a League entity, and feel increased comfort as the sole elite football team on Wirral, along came a bunch of raw neophytes, setting up stall to the north on the picturesque coast. Formed in 1921 from the ashes of South Liverpool, a bankrupt club from Dingle in Liverpool, New Brighton AFC played two relatively quiet seasons in the Lancashire Combination, before joining a newly expanded Football League.
The two teams met again just seven days later, this time at Tranmere’s Prenton Park, before 15,416 excited spectators. In this age of awakening professionalism, clubs fought for every penny to survive. Accordingly, no fan would be turned away, leading to dozens of onlookers, clad in top hats and snazzy suits befitting the era, spilling over from the cramped terraces onto the muddy sidelines. The passionate horde witnessed New Brighton triumph over Tranmere, 2–1, adding fresh drama to the gathering feud.
Coastal Wirral had long been viewed as a viable location for a successful football team, with New Brighton Tower, a precursor club, spending three seasons in Division Two between 1898 and its demise in 1901.
In fact, it would take Tranmere almost three years to finally beat their local enemies, amid mounting pressure from fans eager to secure bragging rights. Even with a young Dixie Dean leading the line, Rovers lost each
of the five encounters between 1924 and 1926, including a tense Cheshire Senior Cup Final and a frustrating Boxing Day tussle in front of 15,173 merry Wirralians. By the time New Brighton ventured down to Prenton Park on 4th September 1926, a sense of resentment pervaded Tranmere fans, who wanted nothing more than to beat their nemesis and put an end to the sorry losing streak. A phenomenal crowd of 16,047 filled the archaic stadium to bursting, intent on cheering the home Rovers to victory, and, finally, at the seventh time of asking, Tranmere delivered, winning 4–1 in the most one-sided derby yet. The result was something of a tipping point in the fixture’s history, with Tranmere proceeding to win three of the next five matches, thanks, in no small part, to the goals of Pongo Waring, a future star for Aston Villa and England. In 1927 and ’28, Waring scored the winning goal in successive derbies, tilting the balance of power in Rovers’ favour.
Thomas ‘Pongo’ Waring
The Lake 31 However, over the Christmas period of 1929, the form book was thrown out of the proverbial window; Tranmere and New Brighton playing a remarkable Christmas Day-Boxing Day doubleheader that tested both sides to their maximum. Rovers won, 3–1, at Prenton Park on Christmas Day, before losing, 3–0, in front of 9,289 at Sandheys Park less than 24 hours later. In total, 15,444 people enjoyed the Yuletide extravaganza, which imbued the Wirral derby with a fresh sense of prestige. In the subsequent years, Tranmere were transformed into a very powerful team with designs on promotion; Rovers benefiting greatly from the clinical forward partnership struck by Jack Kennedy, Fred Watts and Ernie Dixon, which in 1930/31, produced a record-setting 93 goals. By comparison, New Brighton were workmanlike and lacked cutting edge, a juxtaposition illustrated by Tranmere winning five and losing just one of the eight derby matches between 1930 and ’33. Yet New Brighton continued to fight and, in the mid-30s, interest soared in Wirral’s football showcase. Attendances regularly topped 10,000 whenever the two sides met, representing a sharp departure from the Depression-era norm. As both clubs cautiously eyed promotion, the matches became tighter than ever, with four consecutive encounters settled by a single goal between 1933 and ’35. In 1936, Tranmere were pushed to the next level by a returning hero – Pongo Waring, then a distinguished England international, rejoining his home town club and scoring the goals to fire Rovers up the table. With Waring leading the line, Tranmere were unstoppable in 1937/38, beating all comers, including New Brighton home and away, to finally achieve promotion as champions of Division Three North. Tranmere’s lone season in Division Two, coupled with the outbreak of World War II suspending all Football League activity, led to an eight-year hiatus in top-level meetings between the two Wirral rivals. They would meet in low-key friendly matches and fundraising exhibitions to aid the war effort, but never with the intensity inspired by large and noisy crowds. Thankfully, the Football League finally resumed play in 1946. However, with Sandheys Park destroyed during the war, New Brighton were forced to relocate to the Tower Athletic Ground of their doomed predecessors. Nonetheless, when Tranmere visited for the first real derby in almost a decade, 14,291 fans were on hand, shattering the previous attendance record for a league game at the stadium. For good measure, New Brighton ran out 2–1 winners, inspiring hope of a bright future.
The Wirral derby thrived in the post-war boom years, as free and prosperous citizens flocked to football matches in record numbers. In 1947, for instance, Tranmere beat New Brighton, 1–0, at Prenton Park, before 17,359 hedonistic onlookers, while a year later, 16,336 traipsed to Birkenhead to watch the coastal visitors steal a 1–0 win. Never had so many people been so thoroughly fascinated by Wirral football. However, as fan interest surged, New Brighton struggled on the pitch. As ever, they competed well against Tranmere, with local pride at stake, but accruing muchneeded points against Third Division North opposition became increasingly arduous. The Rakers, so named because their home ground bordered Rake Lane, finished 18th in 1947, before sinking to the very bottom of the league and requiring re-election a year later. They rebounded to finish 17th in 1949 and 14th in 1950, but many sensed a sorry demise around the corner. The axe ultimately fell following the 1950/51 season when, having again finished bottom, New Brighton were voted out of the Football League after 28 years. Fittingly, the final League derby held on Wirral, played on 20th January 1951, attracted 12,253 fans to Prenton Park, with Tranmere and New Brighton producing a battle for ages. Rovers won 4–3, emerging victorious from a swashbuckling contest that sadly hammered another nail into the New Brighton coffin. After being replaced in the Football League by Workington, the Rakers slumped into the Lancashire Combination and, later, the amateur Cheshire County League. Save for one final FA Cup run, during which the non-leaguers managed to beat Stockport, Derby and Torquay en route to a 9–0 thrashing by Burnley, New Brighton fell into a gloomy state of disrepair.
By the early 1980s, the club had been forced into a much smaller ground in Hoylake, and was routinely chased by the Inland Revenue over unpaid dues. Destitute and confined to leagues of regional amateurism, New Brighton AFC was ultimately disbanded in 1983, closing the book on 62 years of history. Meanwhile, Tranmere of course went on to enjoy great prosperity, carving out an existence as a robust League club and, under the management of Johnny King, even venturing into Europe in the early 1990s. Rovers were almost promoted to the embryonic Premier League, before sliding back down the divisions quite unceremoniously. Today, they play in the fourth division, with a loyal fan base that yearns for a true local rivalry like those of bygone times. Ultimately, Tranmere and New Brighton played 41 matches in the Football League, with Rovers winning 20 times and the Rakers 13. In total, 117 goals were scored in the 41 contests, which drew a combined attendance of 437,799, or an average of 10,678 per game. It was incredible fun while it lasted, with two successful Football League teams putting Wirral on the map during a golden epoch for sport. Nowadays the closest thing to a Wirral derby comes when Tranmere send their reserves to Heswall or Cammell Laird for pre-season friendlies or Senior Cup ties, which is a crying shame. Of course, the power and allure of Liverpool and Everton nestled across the river basically extinguish the notion of a second Wirral club blooming to fruition, but we can all dream. Perhaps Tranmere and New Brighton will one day meet again, energising a peninsula that once knew and loved them so well.
32 The Lake
St Bridget’s Centre, St Bridget’s Lane, West Kirby CH48 3JT
The West Kirby Museum Research Group The West Kirby Museum Research Group is working on several projects. Several people are working on our five-year rolling project ‘West Kirby Remembers WW1’. Other ongoing projects are the history of St Bridget’s school, churches of West Kirby, West Kirby Old Village, the development of Hydro Avenue, Mostyn Avenue, Victoria Road and Hilbre Road, the history of Caldy, Stonehive, Darmonds Green, Grange and transport in West Kirby. A major project is the history of West Kirby shops. Val Frost and Sue Jackson are compiling all the photographs and information about the shopkeepers, businesses and their families. Our group meet weekly, during term time, in the Old School Room (now part of St Bridget’s Centre) adjoining the West Kirby Museum. We are always grateful for any advice, information or help. If you would like to join our group or have any photographs or information to share, please contact: Val Frost 0151 678 8460 email: valeriejfrost@btinternet.com or Sue Jackson 0151 625 2298 email: spj2298@gmail.com The Research Group continues to organise exhibitions and displays at the West Kirby Library, St Bridget’s Centre, and West Kirby Museum. We have an interchangeable museum display to complement our history lectures. ‘West Kirby, Hoylake and the Lusitania’ will be the topic for May 2015. West Kirby Museum is open every Saturday from 10.00am to 1.00pm. Admission is free. We have an active Friends Group and welcome volunteers.
Winners of Quiz Night
We held a very successful History Quiz Night on 23rd January. Peter Ryan, the Quizmaster, set a huge range of questions which kept us all on our toes. The winners were Linda and Harry Sutton.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS Friday 8th May – ‘West Kirby, Hoylake and the Lusitania’ An illustrated talk by Heather Chapman on the 100th anniversary of the sinking Tickets for talks £5, Friends of the Museum £2.50 7pm for 7.30pm at St Bridget’s Centre, West Kirby Visit the website www.westkirbymuseum.co.uk
The Lake 33
“Tweaked not tucked” The new aesthetic mantra injections as an alternative to surgical lifts, and plumping, augmenting products for the cheeks, lips, etc., which provide an alternative to implants. IPL & Laser: Using cold 3B lasers and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), this treatment boosts collagen production and reduces the appearance of many of the signs of ageing on the face, neck, hands and body. It improves skin texture and tone as well as reducing lines and wrinkles. It is also effective on other signs of ageing such as pigmentation, scarring and sun damage.
According to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (Baaps): “Tweaked not tucked appears to have become the new aesthetic ideal.” Tracey Locke, lead clinician at Serenity Clinic Ltd. agrees. Statistics from BAAPS show cosmetic operations fell by 9% in 2014 compared with 2013. And, although some of this decrease is apportioned to fewer ‘boob jobs’ (following implant scandals), I believe there’s also been a move toward non-surgical procedures. This is backed up by figures from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), which reported a 43% increase in the number of non-surgical fat reduction procedures last year! As an exponent of non-surgical procedures for over two decades, I’m obviously heartened by this, but what pleases me more is that, at last, people are making a direct comparison between the two. The reason for this, I think, is that people are more informed about treatments and the results that can be achieved. But there’s still a way to go. So, here’s my overview of some of the procedures that I believe do rank up there as ‘non-surgical’ alternatives. Face, Neck & Eyes Surgical face, eye, brow lifts, cheek implants, etc., are a huge undertaking in terms of risk, recovery time and cost, not to mention the fact that if you’re dissatisfied with the result there’s nothing you can do. There are now non-surgical facelifts and anti-ageing procedures that produce truly outstanding results without these risks or implications.
Genie Lifting: The ‘personal trainer for the face’, this rebuilds muscle mass to regain a fuller more youthful look. It re-contours the face, enhances cheekbones, lifts brows, lifts the corner of the mouth, fills out the upper lip, defines the jaw line, reduces sagging, smooths lines and wrinkles and reduces the appearance of sagging ‘crêpe’ neck. Venus Freeze Facelift: A firm favourite with A-listers such as Oprah Winfrey and Lisa Snowden, this non-surgical facelift has nothing to do with cold (the freezing refers to time). It instigates collagen and fibroblast (regenerative skin cells) production, neo-vascularity (new blood vessels) and lipolysis (fat reduction) to reduce lines and rhytides (wrinkles) as well as lifting, tightening and plumping the skin. It can also reduce fat on the face and neck. The result is a younger, smoother appearance with a defined profile. Vampire Facelift: A favourite of Kim Kardashian, Anna Friel and more recently featured on The Real Housewives of Cheshire, the Vampire Facial or Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) lift uses plasma (from blood taken from your arm), which is then injected into problem areas such as under the eyes, forehead, chin and above the upper lip. It uses your own growth factors to plump the skin and reduce lines and wrinkles. Botox & Fillers: Modern injectables produce incredible results (in the right hands) that address many of the problems formerly strictly in the realm of surgery. There are a variety of products to address different problems e.g. anti-wrinkle and line-reducing
Body Modern non-surgical lifting and body sculpting can produce more natural-looking, targeted results than a scalpel or liposuction. I’ve given examples below, but a combination of different therapies produces the optimum results. Cryolipolysis: Ideal for stubborn areas of fat on the arms, thighs, abdomen, etc., this could be called a form of non-surgical liposuction, but without the invasive procedures or risks and, importantly, with the added benefit of targeted contoured results. It permanently destroys 20-40% of the fat cells in the treated area, producing targeted inch loss in as little as one treatment. Ultrasound Cavitation: Harnessing a natural phenomenon based on low frequency ultrasound, it literally ‘pops’ the fat cell permanently so it can’t refill. This works well on larger areas of unwanted fat such as the abdomen, and is an alternative to the ‘nip & tuck’ surgical concept. Laser Lipo: Using laser paddles set to a specific wavelength to harmlessly drain the fat from cells, this produces inch loss on a range of areas such as the tummy, beer belly, ‘moobs’, thighs, hips, arms, chin and jowls. RF Skin Tightening: Radio frequency selectively heats skin tissue to boost collagen production. It tightens and lifts the skin for a smoother, slimmer silhouette. It can also significantly reduce the appearance of cellulite. Serenity Clinic Ltd 162 Banks Road, West Kirby, Wirral CH48 0RH T: 0151 625 6256 www.serenity-clinic.co.uk
34 The Lake
Career Guidance 10 Top tips for CVs By Susanne Christian
4. Keep your CV to a maximum of two pages
9. Use bullet points
The rule of thumb is that CVs should usually be no longer than two pages. That’s what employers expect – they probably won’t read any more than that. And, on a practical note, some sites that ask you to upload your CV have a word or character limit. You don’t want the last part of your CV to be lost from your application.
You want your CV to be clear and easy to read so an employer can quickly see that you are suitable for the job. Bullets make a CV much easier to read.
5. A one-page CV is fine if you’re a school or college leaver
About Susanne 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. I’ve worked one-to-one and with groups, 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 at www.susannechristian.co.uk or contact me on susannechristian24@gmail.com or phone 07837 345082
10 Top tips for CVs 1. Everyone needs a CV Most adults need a CV at some point. Young people need one as well – once you get your GCSEs behind you, you’re going to need to make applications at every stage as you progress with your education and employment. 2. Keep your CV up to date You never know when you might need it. Opportunities arise when you’re not expecting them. If someone says ‘send me your CV’, you don’t want to be caught out by not having it ready. 3. CVs aren’t just for jobs Agreed, most CVs are used for job applications. But you may also be asked for a CV if you apply for courses, college, voluntary work, etc.
If you’ve just left school or college, you’ve got qualifications but maybe little or no employment experience. You might be wondering how you’re going to fill two sides of a CV. You’ll be best sticking to a (well laid out) one-page CV.
Look at: ‘I worked for ten years as manager of the Birkenhead branch, where I supervised 20 staff. I was responsible for staff rotas, opening and closing, and stock control. I was a keyholder. Business has grown by 10% this year.’ Fine, but see how much clearer this is: • 10 years as Branch Manager • Supervising 20 staff
6. Make your CV relevant
• Responsible for staff rotas, opening and closing, stock control
The format might vary depending on what the application is for.
• Keyholder
If you’re applying for a job, for example, you want to show the new employer what experience you have. So you’d list your previous jobs with some detail about your duties, responsibilities and achievements. Your qualifications would go on page two. If you’re applying for a course, it’s more relevant to list your qualifications (particularly if you have to meet entry criteria). You might want to mention work or work experience, but without too much detail.
• Contributed to 10% increase in business. 10. Check your CV carefully Few things impress less than careless proofreading mistakes – especially if one of the requirements for the job is ‘attention to detail’! So check your CV thoroughly. Better still, get someone else to look over it. When you’ve been reading something over and over again, it’s easy to miss the odd typo. A fresh pair of eyes works wonders.
7. Start with your contact details If you are the right person for the job, you want that employer to get straight back to you. So make it easy for them. Start with your name and address, add telephone numbers (landline and mobile if you have both – remember you’re trying to make it easy for the employer). Add your email (and website, if you have one) and you’re done. 8. Be smart with space Your contact details need to be on there – and they need to be clear. That doesn’t mean they need to take up unnecessary space. You can set them out like this: Name Surname 10 My Street Anytown CHXX XXX myemail@email.com www.mywebsite.co.uk With a maximum of three lines, all the information’s there.
If you’re finding your CV just isn’t getting you onto the short list for interviews, ask the expert! There’s no substitute for a one-to-one session with a careers advisor. I have an excellent track record for helping people sharpen up their CVs. This what some previous clients have said: “Susanne gave me great insight into what potential employers are looking for on a CV” “Susanne showed me how to present a CV correctly and how to tailor it to my skills and achievements” “I now understand the true purpose of a CV and how to use it to best effect” To book in, email susannechristian24@gmail.com or phone 07837 345082
The Lake 35
Shorelines By Stephen G Baker Thanks for reading this new column. My aim is to reflect with you on lessons that we can learn from some of the things that are going on in West Kirby, Hoylake, Meols, Caldy, Merseyside, and further afield from time to time. So, why the title ‘Shorelines’? A shoreline is the fringe of land at the edge of a large body of water, such as an ocean, sea or lake. If you are a ‘landlubber’ it’s probably where you feel safest; if you are seafaring person it means you are ‘home and dry’ – back safely or you completed something successfully. This reminds me that we face hazards as we navigate our way through life. It is good to be prewarned of the dangers and to find a reliable source of wisdom and experience. After all, there is no point in making the same mistakes that others have made. I rue the fact that there isn’t the same emphasis on the family as there used to be. Grandparents are a great source of wisdom and experience. When I was young my father took our family to Scotland, many miles from our native city of Liverpool. My mother’s parents were in Belfast and so we didn’t get the full benefit of learning from our grandparents like previous generations did. The development of transport and technologies such as video messaging can make up for distance, but there is nothing quite like day-to-day contact with family. If you have access to your family, treat them well, make time for them, and make sure you share your experience and love with them. My aim is to get you to think about moral and spiritual issues, which I hope will help you keep safe and avoid some of the dangers we face in the 21st century. After all, from time to time, we all struggle with relationships, work life, and generally with the pressures of life. So where do I start? I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I believe that we can know the truth. Even that statement is controversial! Let me point you to the words of Jesus. He believed that you could know absolute truth. He said “and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free”, John 8. 32 (the Bible). In fact, He claimed to be ‘The Truth’ in John 14. 6 when he stated “I am the way, the truth and the life”, (John 14. 6). So who am I? I’m in my 50s, happily married to my wife, Carole, and have two adult children. I am afraid to admit the next fact, but I had better get it into the open – I used to be a banker. I left the world of banking in 2004 and now write, blog, broadcast on radio and preach and teach about the bible. Which is why I am keen to share some of the good news with you. I look forward to talking with you in the next issue. God bless.
Win a pair of tickets for ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ by Hillbark Players Everyone knows that Beatrice and Benedick were meant for each other, but – because neither will admit it – nothing seems capable of bringing these two sharp-tongued wits together. While the pugnacious pair would rather exchange scorching insults than sweet nothings, they are finally united with the shared resolve of defending house and honour, and salvaging the true love of Hero and Claudio after deceptions destroy the young lovers’ wedding day. But will restoring a young romance also lead to an unexpected change of heart for the combative couple? Complete with jealous schemes and a whole host of delightfully endearing characters, Much Ado About Nothing is a hilarious and heart-stoppingly romantic love story which is sure to entertain and enthral. In Beatrice and Benedick, this sublime battle of wits and wills gives us one of Shakespeare’s most effervescent and endearing pair of lovers. As well as being a unique part of Wirral’s cultural heritage, Hillbark Players have become the longest-established open-air Shakespeare company in the North West. Beneath midsummer skies in the magical setting of Royden Park, come and join us for an unforgettable evening of classic Shakespearian entertainment! The Lake has two pairs of tickets for Monday night’s performance to give away. All you have to do is answer the following question:
What was the name of William Shakespeare’s wife who he married in 1582? For your chance to win, simply send your answer by email to: jon@lakemagazine.co.uk or by post to: Much Ado About Nothing Competition, The Lake, Royal Standard House, 334 New Chester Road, Rock Ferry, Wirral CH42 1LE. Remember to include your full address and contact number. Closing date for entries 30th April 2015. The winner will be determined by the editor. There will be no cash or other alternatives to the prize offered. The Lake reserves the right to publish the entries and name of the winner. No correspondence will be entered into.
www.findingthemissingpeace.blogspot.co.uk www.seekthetruth.org.uk
@lakewirral
36 The Lake
Under the Gavel – The Auctioneer’s View by John Bathurst Crane
2015 got off to a rip-roaring start in our Liverpool Antiques and Fine Art Auction Rooms. The first internet ‘Live-bidding’ auction of Cato Crane’s 30th year, and my 40th year in the business, comprised 420 lots of ‘fresh-to-the-market’ goods from private vendors. Fresh-to-the-market means that we offer furniture, silver, jewellery, pictures and collectables that have not been on the open market for many years, often never. They are not trade ‘throw-outs’ or amateur dealers’ mistakes. The region is awash with unwanted third-rate stuff that nobody wants to keep for long, if at all. If the trade can’t sell it, then there is something wrong with it for many reasons: colour, quality, style or size and so on. And if they can’t sell it, then you don’t want it in your home either. It is not worth buying even at rock-bottom ‘final resort’ trade auctioneer prices in ordinary auction rooms. The auction room is not a place for the unwary, inexperienced novice, but we all have to start somewhere and the local auction rooms are the places where most people start in the learning process. As you progress in your acquisition of knowledge, then the main city or London auction rooms are the next steps to take – but that is another story for another day. If you see a piece you are considering bidding on, just send me an photograph and I will be happy to let you know my opinion and also let you know what points to look out for when appraising an object for home use. If you are bidding on the internet, do make sure you obtain a detailed condition report. And also, do bear in mind that all goods in antique auctions will have some wear and minor damage – restoration of some sort is generally required and you will have to build this cost into your final bidding price, together with postage and delivery costs. There is really no substitute for standing in the auction rooms on the day of the auction and getting the feel of the day after a careful physical examination of the piece you might like to acquire. Sometimes when visiting clients to appraise objects we don’t have a lot of information to go
on and much of the information older auctioneers have stored and retained over a lifetime was learned before the days of the ‘quick fix internet info’ and is not to be found on that medium. It is called the experience of decades in the business... All that may be available might be just a fragment of information, or even a piece of family hearsay. One such piece of ‘information’ we hear often is about ‘a chair that King Edward VII sat on when he visited Liverpool’. From the number of times I’ve had my ear bent with this piece of family folklore, I can only deduce that the King spent most of his reign in Liverpool visiting thousands of houses to test out comfortable chairs on which to rest his Royal weight!
Picture Label Fragment
I have illustrated a fragmented and half-missing label which was on the reverse of a nice picture I discovered recently. The label had been dampened at some time and faded; the digital camera enhanced the script so the studio name in St Ives in Cornwall was just decipherable, although the name was still illegible. The initials ‘P.H.’ on the bottom left of the painting are those of Pauline Hewitt, 1875–1956, who arrived at St Ives in 1912 and painted there until 1952. She is a well recognised artist with a very good track record of exhibitions over many years. Mrs Hewitt worked in the St Peters Studio as stated on the label. (It’s now a holiday cottage, by the way.)
Pauline Hewitt – Continental Market Scene
So follow your dream and take your paints and brushes for a fortnight’s break but please, please sign your full name and
attach an indestructible label to any work you complete in case you are discovered in 70 years’ time! Some readers will remember the Waring & Gillow furniture retailers at the bottom of Bold Street in Liverpool who sold the very good quality furniture of the day. About 1730, young Robert Gillow started making fine furniture in Lancaster, quite a long time before Sheraton and Hepplewhite. He was a great entrepreneur and many ships arrived at Lancaster docks with their holds full of exotic woods, especially mahogany from the West Indies which was used as ballast. This was used by Gillow as it was new to Britain where before only pine, oak, walnut and fruitwoods had been available. The Gillow family probably produced more furniture than any other manufacturer over the next 300 years. So successful were they that they expanded into architecture, designing and fitting out the Ritz Hotel in London. They supplied and fitted panelling in grand properties worldwide, and in the luxurious interiors of the world’s finest cruise liners of the day. During the wars, Gillows made aircraft propellers and their upholstery department made camouflage netting and kit bags. International trade shows are the lifeblood of successful businesses and in 1900 Gillow joined forces with the very successful furniture manufacturer Waring of Liverpool to exhibit once again at the amazing Paris Exposition held from April until October of that year. I say ‘amazing’ because it truly was a dazzling event. This international exhibition was a showcase for the world. The site covered 630 acres of central Paris with an innovative moving perimeter walkway over three kilometres long. Over the duration of the exhibition there were 83,000 exhibitors and 53,000,000 visitors. A successful time, but fashions in England were changing. In 1903 Gillow merged with Waring of Liverpool to become Waring & Gillow and in 1986 with Maples. Now this is leading to another local discovery of two 7ft by 3ft cast bronze Art Nouveau panels bearing the name Gillow. A few days’ research with London
Gillows Art Nouveau plaque 1900
contacts of long standing has produced the results I was hoping for. They are the same panels as those used by Gillow at the Paris International Exhibition of 1900. They probably returned to Liverpool by ship and have been stored in a warehouse ever since – that’s 115 years. With all that history, what are they worth? We’ll let the auction room decide that very soon…
The Lake 37
Gillow Furniture Stamp
Any Gillows furniture is still much sought after. About 40 per cent of their output has their name impressed on their pieces, usually on the top of the front face of drawers, and you should make a careful examination of any fine pieces you may have. Other names to look out for are Lamb of Manchester, Shoolbred, and Blain, along with Richard Crosby and Sons of Great George’s Street in Liverpool. This firm was founded in the 1820s and used an inked rubber office stamp on the back of drawers to mark their output. It is always worth a quick look. Fake Gillow’s stamps have been used over the past 60 years, so do be careful though as people’s integrity and evidence of craftsmanship are not always what they appear to be…
Often Missed R.Crosby Furniture Stamp
S.Jamar was a maker of exquisite furniture in London and made furniture for Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland. Jamar had a showroom in Great Charlotte Street in Liverpool in
the 1820s. If you think you have a piece of his furniture, then you might be able to consider early retirement! Finally on this matter, I have illustrated a French Bureau Plat which was made by Sormani of Paris. It was formerly owned by Feodor Chaliapin, the greatest Russian baritone ever. It had been in his Paris flat and we achieved £8,500 for this piece when we auctioned it in our Liverpool Auction Rooms in 2003.
Motorcycle Brochures
Raymond Booth – Exquisite Camellias
Feodor Chaliapin’s Bureau Plat
It is always worth bearing in mind that only one piece of antique furniture in about five thousand will come close to being in the category of ‘finest’. However, we are very happy nowadays to take into the auction rooms the once again fashionable Ercol and ‘G’ Plan, bringing again remarkable prices! People often ask me about investing in pictures. I always say ‘Do be careful’. Most expenditure on medium-to low-priced art is a total waste of money as far as return on investment is concerned, and that is all there is to say on the matter. But, if you ever see in auction a picture by Raymond Booth who specialises in botanical and wildlife studies, don’t be careful – don’t worry
about the cost (within reason)… just buy it. Raymond Booth’s work is exquisite and he has a track record of exhibiting with the Fine Art Society in Bond Street, London for the last 50 years. I am currently looking for one for a client, but I know the bidding will be fierce when the time comes. I have recently been invited to give several lectures and talks relating to my experiences within the antiques supply industry. I actually enjoy giving presentations to large or small groups for people interested in knowing what happens behind the scenes in auction houses... the truth being stranger than the fiction which most people see! Both the Rotary Club of Bebington and Linghams Book Shop in Heswall organised two very successful evenings in February, when I addressed about 150 people and did valuations on items they had brought with them. The subjects were ‘The Real Story of Auctions and Auctioneering on Merseyside’ and
‘Is it Trash or Treasure’? ... A box of 1930s motorcycle pamphlets made £1,040 in our last auction, so that was obviously treasure for someone! My next talk is to the U3A in Heswall Hall in April. If there are other groups of people interested in inviting me to talk to them, why not phone me personally to arrange a suitable date? If you have valuable items to sell you can bring them along too or invite me to visit you at home as we are constantly searching for the hidden gems and masterpieces and when they do surface they do bring substantial amounts of money. One house visit several years ago resulted in a client receiving £1,800,000 as a result of my advice and sale guidance on Russian pictures discovered locally. So if you are not sure, call me now! Finally may I wish you all ‘Happy Antique Hunting’ and don’t forget to dig out all old Beatles memorabilia while the prices are still high. This annual auction is looming up again in the summer and, as it is a successful event, catalogue space is already at a premium as usual. For home visits, please call me on 0151 342 2321, or Chester on 01244 680 055, or Liverpool on 0151 709 5559, or visit www.catocrane.co.uk
38 The Lake Three simple steps to reduce the sugar in your diet 1. Get packaging label savvy Read the label on packets and jars in the supermarket. The ingredients are always listed from the most to least. If sugar appears in the first few listed you know to give it a wide berth. Beware though, sugar is sometimes disguised under a different name. A general rule of thumb is, if the word ends is in ‘ose’ it’s a sugar. 2. Eliminate fruit juices and fizzy drinks
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.
You may think that fruit juices are healthy but they are jam-packed full of sugar. If you want a fruity hit, squeeze some lemon or lime into water. 3. Replace fruit snacks with vegetables Fruit has a very high concentration of sugar in comparison to vegetables. Try swapping a banana for sticks of pepper for a low sugar alternative. If you can’t stand the thought of veg snacks, change to low sugar fruits such as berries.
We can all wish and dream, but there is no magic formula or quick fix to lose weight. To confuse matters further, there always seems to be a new exercise fad, super-food or crazy diet to add to the mix. The simplest way to lose weight is a healthy balanced diet and plenty of exercise. One of the worst culprits of our modern diet that could be hindering your weight loss is sugar. It’s so widely used that you are probably eating more than you think. I’m going to give you the lowdown on why sugar is stopping you from dropping that dress size and how to reduce it in your diet. The three ways sugar makes you gain weight 1. It causes your body to store fat When we eat sugar, our body produces a hormone called insulin. The more sugar we eat, the more insulin our bodies produce. One of the main jobs of insulin is to tell our body to store fat for when we need it for energy. So, lots of sugar plus low exercise levels equals lots of fat stored. 2. Sugar doesn’t make you feel full Without going into the complex workings of the body, when we eat and drink our body releases hormones that tell your brain you are full. When we overindulge in sugar, these hormones stop working properly. This means that not only does the brain think we are not full, it thinks it’s being starved so makes you want to eat more. 3. Sugar IS addictive When we eat sugar, the brain acts in the same way as it does to other addictive substances such as nicotine and alcohol. Eating sugar gives us a ‘mini high’ that the brain will want to experience again (also known as a ‘hard to resist craving’). When we give in to the craving, the body goes through the same process and we get into a vicious cycle.
Claire before
Claire before
FITNESS QUEEN OF THE MONTH Congratulations to Claire Brandwood from Fitness Queen Arrowe Park who is March’s Queen of the Month. Claire has seen some amazing weight loss results since starting with us in September and her fitness levels have improved massively! She is now doing things that she never thought possible six months ago and attacks the hardest class we can throw at her! Want to learn more about how nutrition can help you drop a dress size? The Fitness Queen programme offers full nutritional advice with our 21-day Ultimate Fat Loss Plan and a great workout in a friendly atmosphere. Sessions run in West Kirby, Arrowe Park and Heswall. To claim a FREE WEEK TRIAL, simply contact us quoting THE LAKE.
Call: 07702844984 Email: zara.wylie@gmail.com Web: www.wirralfitness.info