Lake July/August 2016

Issue 21 • July/August 2016

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

Hoylake Golf Resort • Remembering Nomad • Dinosaurs in West Kirby!

Welcome to the twenty-first 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.

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

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 Remembering Nomad – forty years on The Lake speaks to Simon Rimmer Stalwarts retire at Hoylake and West Kirby RNLI Hoylake Trinity FC Annual Rotary Art Exhibition Birkenhead Tramway West Kirby Sailing Club Wirral Hospice Picture Competition Hoylake Golf Resort Fragments from the Front

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

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.

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

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

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Hoylake and Meols in Bloom Kayakers stick their ‘oar’ in for charity Shedding light on beach beauty hang-ups On Your Bike – the Wirral Bikeathon Fitness Queen The Wirral Society All Things Auctioneering Dinosaurs in West Kirby!

Shorelines What’s on the Big Screen

04 The Lake

Remembering Nomad – forty years on

By Heather Chapman Norman Frederick Ellison (1893–1976) acquired the pseudonym ‘Nomad’ when he began broadcasting on BBC Children’s Hour in 1945 (a worthy successor to ‘Romany’, G.K. Bramwell Evans, who died in 1943).

It is 40 years since Nomad died and he will be fondly remembered by many people who knew him. He was a man of many talents and a survivor of both world wars. Soldier, naturalist, historian, author and broadcaster – he recorded everything in meticulous detail: his books, diaries and recordings leaving a lasting legacy, particularly to people of Wirral.

In 1944 Nomad left his office job and became a full-time professional writer on natural history topics. Nomad made over 300 broadcasts on BBC Children’s Hour between 1945 and 1963, telling children tales of the outdoor world. He also wrote children’s books, illustrated by his great friend Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe. He gave lectures and published papers with academic friends. In 1946 he was awarded the Kingsley Memorial Medal for ‘Services to Natural Science’. His well-known book The Wirral Peninsula was published in 1955.

Although Nomad was born in Waterloo, Liverpool, on 26 April 1893, he and his family moved to Wallasey during his boyhood and he developed his love for Wirral. He attended Wallasey Grammar School and had two younger sisters. He was influenced by his bachelor uncle, George Ellison, who had a keen interest in natural history.

Both his parents died during WWI and on returning from the war Nomad looked after his siblings.

At the onset of WWI he enlisted, like many new recruits, looking for adventure and thinking that he may be home for Christmas. He kept diaries detailing his experience of war and the horrors of the trenches.

Post-war he was unsure about whether to publish (although he did not finish compiling the diaries until 1958) and wrote to many distinguished people asking for their advice. His diaries and letters were bequeathed to the Liverpool Libraries Record Office. His book Remembrances from Hell was published by his friend David Lewis in 1997, 21 years after Nomad died. Nomad had written in 1958: “Compiling this book has given me a great deal of personal satisfaction. If it has any value at all, it will be not be now, but say fifty years hence, when, should it survive, it will enable posterity to read how war took a very ordinary young man from an office desk and turned his well ordered life upside down.”

Nomad married Annie Elizabeth Wilson in 1928 and they lived in Wallasey. Nomad worked in Liverpool as a wholesale paper merchant.

In 1940 they were bombed out of their Wallasey home and moved West Kirby to live with friends. They bought their home at 36 Mount Road, West Kirby, nestling on the slopes of Caldy Hill.

During WWII Nomad was Deputy Head Observer of the Royal Observer Corps Post at Hoylake.

Nomad loved West Kirby and its surroundings. He befriended many local people and was a regular visitor to Hilbre Island. He was one of the party who entertained the Duke of Edinburgh on two occasions during Hilbre Island visits.

Returning from Hilbre

He was very much part of West Kirby life and a president of the 1st West Kirby Scouts. His distinctive eyebrows made him easily recognisable.

His collection of artefacts was housed in the West Kirby Library when it was in Sandlea Park. I remember as a child perusing the glass cabinets in the library entrance hall. When the library moved to West Kirby Concourse the collection was stored there until 1996 when it was sent to the Wirral Museum for safekeeping. The West Kirby Museum has tried to locate this interesting collection without success. It seems likely that it has not been yet indexed and is lying in an outsource centre.

Many local people will identify with this Nomad quote: “My work takes me far afield to many lovely places in this country, yet it is always with a deep feeling of thankfulness that I return to West Kirby.”

The only West Kirby memorial to Nomad is a cremation stone which lies close to St Bridget’s Church lychgate.

Forty years on I remember this modest man with great affection.

Our family knew Nomad very well. My brother Russ was his ‘paperboy’ and often chattered with Nomad at the crack of dawn.

I have an affinity with this famous Wirral celebrity – we share the same 26 April birth date During July and August the new display in the West Kirby Museum is ‘Remembering Nomad – forty years on’. The Museum is open every Saturday between 10am and 1pm.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

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Solar Update – Government pushing ahead There have also been developments both in terms of the aesthetic appeal of solar, and ability to store excess energy generated during the day in batteries for use in the evening. Tony Edwards, from local design and installation company NES Roofing and Energy, explains: “Even with today’s electricity prices, an investment in Solar can still provide a return in excess of other investments – and for anyone considering a reroof it makes absolute sense, as significantly fewer tiles or slates would be needed, and the finish looks really good.”

“Also, battery technology is now available at a price which makes financial sense – and the technology can provide backup and protect against blackouts – and we are installing equipment from companies such as LG and Tesla.”

As predicted in earlier editions, the government are pushing ahead with plans to bring more nuclear and fracked gas to the UK energy mix, even though this will impact on the energy security of the UK and, ultimately, cost the public more than the renewable energy alternatives..

In addition to signing up for Chinese funding of the proposed nuclear plant at Hinckley Point, in January the government reduced incentives for solar installations. After much campaigning, the reductions were not as drastic as had first been proposed however, and solar can still provide an attractive proposition – both financially, and ethically.

06 The Lake

The Lake speaks to Simon Rimmer, the face of West Kirby’s newest hostelry – The Viking Pub & Bakehouse What style of food is on the menu?

Modern pub food. The key things on the menu have to be great burgers, fish and chips and roast dinners – but added to those we’ll be offering curries, a vast range of sandwiches, a good selection for kids and a few things which are a little bit off the wall. There’s a Scandinavian ‘feel’ rather than a ‘theme’ here, so we’ve put some nice little touches in the way we are doing certain dishes. The average price bracket is between £10 to £15 for main meals.

Why did you choose West Kirby and this particular location for your pub?

When we started the business, the aim was to run everything within the M62 and M56 corridor. We opened our first pub, The Elephant Pub & Bakehouse, in Woolton and it felt like a really good fit. I’m originally from Wallasey and it felt like there was something valuable in ‘coming home’. We are constantly looking for sites and when this one came up, we looked at it a few times and it made good sense.

There are a lot of similarities between The Viking and our Woolton site in that The Viking is in a great location and has a history of being a pub, but for whatever reason it hadn’t been successful for many years. We have spent over £1m on refurbishment and training our people.

Is The Viking a pub or a restaurant?

Both really. We want it to be a ‘modern pub’. The drinking side is really important to us and, as a free house, we’ll stock a wide range of good quality local beers. There will be eating and drinking throughout, but there will be certain areas where you can reserve tables. We welcome everyone from people just meeting for a drink to couples, groups and families. We also have a private function room upstairs which has its own fully functional kitchen and bar.

How much input are you having personally?

Masses. I am not going to just be the face of it and then disappear once it’s open. I have created 80 per cent of the dishes on the menu and I’ve been involved in the design and marketing, and recruitment at every single level. My partners, Roy Ellis and Neil Macleod, started the Revolution chain of bars so they have years of industry experience, which is priceless.

Which current chef do you admire the most?

From a TV point of view it would be Rick Stein, but my favourite ‘working chef’ is Jason Atherton who has done amazing well. He came from Gordon Ramsay’s stable to set up on his own and he’s now on restaurant number 18! Jason has managed to keep his standards high and maintained his credibility while bringing people on all the time – people who are getting a chance to have more control over what they are doing. He’s a great operator.

What is your favourite Merseyside restaurant?

I have to say The Art School in Sugnall Street, Liverpool where Paul Askew is Head Chef.

The Lake would like to welcome Simon and the team at The Viking into the local community and thank Simon for taking time out to tell us about his new venture.

You seem very keen to involve the local community.

People like to be involved – we leafleted the local area and held meetings to tell people about our plans. All the immediate local residents were invited over to The Elephant to get a feel of what our company is all about. We have recruited locally and created 50 jobs.

At The Elephant we have family events such as carol concerts, firework displays and Easter Egg Hunts – we’re looking to bring all these things to West Kirby as well. We want the pub to be the hub of the community. and the response so far has been amazing.

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Two stalwarts to retire at Hoylake and West Kirby RNLI He was elected to both the Station and the Financial Branch committees back in 1987 and became Station Treasurer when the Hoylake and West Kirby Lifeboat financial accounts merged in 2005.

He continued in this role until he took over the position of Chairman of the Hoylake and West Kirby Lifeboat Management Group in 2011.

During recent years James was Treasurer for the appeals to raise funds for the building of Hoylake RNLI’s magnificent lifeboat station and for the funding of her new high-tech Shannon Class lifeboat, achievements of which he is justifiably proud.

In recognition of his achievements, the RNLI awarded James the Silver Badge in 1999 and the Gold Badge in 2011.

John Curry was a serving Liverpool Marine Pilot when he had his first ‘shout’. He answered the call to a maroon for West Kirby inshore lifeboat back in March 1970. The following year he enrolled as a crew member with the West Kirby boat and served there for 20 years. In November 1991 he was awarded the RNLI’s Long Service Badge.

James Lodder and John Curry have a combined total of more than 75 years of service to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), the national charity devoted to saving lives at sea.

James, the popular Chairman of Hoylake and West Kirby RNLI Lifeboats, is to retire after more than 30 years of dedicated work for the charity. John, the tireless Lifeboat Operations Manager at Hoylake Lifeboat Station has still more to give. After 46 years of service he is to continue as James’s successor as Chairman.

James volunteered to help at Hoylake Lifeboat Open Day in 1985 and since then has put in thousands of hours in administration and fundraising for the organisation. He has held numerous positions within the local RNLI and has been a real stalwart in supporting their life-saving efforts.

During this period he was involved in many rescues, perhaps the most notable being part of the crew for the rescue of two men whose canoe had capsized close to Hilbre Island on the ebb of a very high tide in the early spring of 1980.

On his birthday in May 1991 John enrolled with the Hoylake Lifeboat Station as a Deputy Launching Authority, standing down from his duties at West Kirby in the November of that year. Soon after arriving at Hoylake he also became their Lifeboat Press Officer.

In April 2001 he took over as Honorary Secretary of Hoylake Lifeboat, a title which was soon to change to Lifeboat Operations Manager and the position he held until his birthday in May of this year.

John is delighted to be continuing his service with the RNLI as he will become Chairman of the Hoylake and West Kirby Lifeboat Stations on the same day that he retires as Lifeboat Operations Manager.

08 The Lake

Port Sunlight Holiday Cottages for Hire!

A 19th century holiday home, with 21st century home comforts Port Sunlight is an ideal base from which to explore the wonderful Wirral Peninsula and its stunning coastlines before you retreat to a tranquil holiday cottage where you can relax and enjoy the Port Sunlight way of life.

If you want to eat out during the day, you have a plethora of venues serving hot and cold meals, as well as amazing village attractions such as Port Sunlight Museum filled with 125 years of social village history and a gift shop selling retro Sunlight Soap! The museum stocks walks and trails so you can find out more about the village history through a gentle stroll.

Check out the Lady Lever Art Gallery with its incredible art collection and the Garden Centre which sells homewares, plants and garden furniture.

During the evening you can book into one of two village restaurants, or how about catching a show at the local amateur dramatic village theatre and then enjoy a last drink to finish your day in one of two village pubs.

Each cottage is furnished to a high standard with warm comfortable living rooms, fully integrated kitchens, modern bathrooms, tastefully decorated bedrooms and private courtyards.

Come and stay a while in one of our Grade II, 4 star Visit England accredited holiday cottages.

To find out more about availability contact us by email: accommodation@portsunlightvillage.com or visit our website: portsunlightvillage.com or call 0151 644 4805.

The Lake 09

Hoylake Trinity FC John (also known as Jack) Ballantine (also spelt Ballantyne) The above gentleman was a goalkeeper for Hoylake Trinity FC who were members of the West Cheshire Football League during the early part of the last century. Trinity were champions of the 2nd Division in season 1913/14 and again in season 1922/23. John, who became known as Jack, appeared in both of those successful seasons. The club were also winners of the Wirral & District Football Association’s Amateur Cup in season 1913/14 and a winners medal from the final, complete with the inscription ‘J.Ballantyne,’ (note the different spelling) has recently come into the West Cheshire League’s possession. As such the league would be happy to pass the medal, along with a champion winner’s medal from 1922/23, on to any surviving relative of Jack, of whom we have the following details.

Born in West Kirby in 1893, John Ballantine was the son of John and Jessie Ballantine. John senior was a tobacconist, originally from Scotland, who died the year that Jack was born. Jessie remarried in 1911 to a William Dean. Jack had joined the Territorial Force in 1909 and a J. Ballantyne was listed as being a World War 1 recruit of the Liverpool Scottish regiment, in September 1914. He was wounded in France in June 1915, returning home the following month. ln the second quarter of 1922 there is record of a John Ballintine marrying Bessie Price in Wirral and although this is likely to be the same John, it is not proven.

Bringing you the biggest names in Bathrooms See your dream bathroom today in our recently refurbished showroom Waterloo Bathrooms is a family run business with more than 35 years of experience and knowledge. We are one of the largest and most well established showrooms on the Wirral with massive premises spanning 2 floors, including a dedicated shower display room with over 15 shower enclosures and wet rooms.

John had a brother, Frederick H, who became a watchmaker with premises in The Crescent, West Kirby and who died in 1946 aged 58 years. John himself passed away on 25th May 1954.

Should any person recognise themselves as a relative of John, they can contact the West Cheshire League President, Ken Halsall, on 0151 608 1312, who will gladly arrange to pass the medals on, The league would like to thank Heather Chapman of West Kirby Museum for her intensive research undertaken to trace the history of John Ballantine.

Whilst undertaking her research Heather came across this photograph of The Church Lads’ Bridge Old Boys’ Football Club 1912-13 in which John played.

This football team was known locally as the Bees. They brought honour to West Kirby when they won the Wirral Junior Cup in 1913.

Recently refurbished showroom Our huge range of bathroom suites has something to suit every taste, space and budget. We have forged direct relationships with top brand manufacturers and distributors over many years allowing you to relax in the knowledge that we are getting you the very best deals on the very latest bathroom products from the very best manufacturers.

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10 The Lake

Some examples of our work Large Poplar close to fence line and property • Dying tree meant great care and technical skill • Tree dismantle and sectional lowering to the ground

• Dismantle with trunk, logs, brash removed and final tidy completed

by WTS in one day

“After the initial consultation they provided a competitive price. We were amazed at the efficient and safe way they handled the project. They did not even stop for a coffee!”

Mr Peter Keen, Heswall

Large 20ft high x 10ft wide hedge • Difficult stepped/sloped site • Safe working platform and specialist tools provide correct working conditions for WTS to produce a great end result

Before

“I know how difficult the job was as I’ve tackled it myself for years. The end result was precision, so good I’ve booked them for next year,” After

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We are committed to customer satisfaction, reliability and long-term working relationships with our customers. All staff are trained to the latest modern standards and our duty of care to the preservation of trees is utmost.

What We Do All aspects of tree surgery Hedge, pruning and shaping Wirral Tree Services are a Heswall-based tree surgery and garden maintenance specialist offering professional but cost-effective workmanship to the residential and commercial sectors.

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Email: info@wirraltreeservices.co.uk • Website: www.wirraltreeservices.co.uk

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Annual Rotary Art Exhibition

We at the Rotary Club of North Wirral are looking forward to our 13th Rotary Art Exhibition this summer. This well-established annual event started out in Heswall Hall in 2004 and later moved to the Carr Farm Garden Centre where, in recent years, we have benefited from the major developments and particularly the new Atrium Restaurant.

Over 30,000 Rotary Clubs worldwide devise ways of helping others, both locally and internationally. Our club enjoys organising events, most notably the Wirral Coastal Walk, a Christmas Carol Concert and recently a Choral Festival at the Floral Pavilion. These events bring enjoyment to the local community, show that Rotary is alive and well on the Wirral and raise money for a whole range of charities and good causes.

The majority of artists who exhibit at our exhibition are local to the Wirral and Merseyside. Ever since JMW Turner painted sunsets on the River Dee, local artists have found inspiration from the special quality of light, along with the flora, fauna and seascapes of the Wirral Peninsula and Dee Estuary, and the ancient villages in our area. Others take inspiration from their travels to other parts of the country or abroad.

Part of the display is devoted to a selection of art produced by pupils of St Bridget’s Primary School, West Kirby, and this is always admired by the many visitors to the exhibition.

Last year 124 artists exhibited a total of 436 paintings, and 76 of these were sold. Eighty per cent of the sales price went to the artists concerned and we took the remaining 20 per cent.

Further proceeds from entry fees, catalogue advertising, sale of draw tickets, etc., resulted in a surplus of £4,600 – an increase on the previous year. This year we hope to top the £5,000 mark.

All proceeds are dispersed to mainly local charities and good causes and no money is retained by the Rotary Club. We are particularly grateful to our major sponsors, who are this year, Marco’s New York Italian Restaurant, Hoylake and Charles Stephens, Funeral Directors throughout the Wirral.

Our Exhibition starts with a Preview Party in the Atrium Restaurant at Carr Farm on the evening of Monday 8th August when members of the Rotary Club, artists and the public gather to enjoy a carvery supper and peruse the exhibits. We are delighted that the Mayor and Mayoress of Wirral have accepted our invitation to join us this year. Tickets for the Monday evening cost £12 each and are available by telephoning Len Kirkham on 0151 652 8118.

Admission to the exhibition is free for the remainder of the week and we hope that many of you will call in and admire the talent of our artists.

12 The Lake

Ryan Ferguson takes a look at Birkenhead Tramway Almost 5,000 passengers used the trams on their first day, riding at seven miles per hour and enjoying the smoother ride. The original route was one and a quarter miles in length, encompassing Shore Road, Argyle Street and Conway Street before terminating near the park. The tramway caused some controversy by operating on Sundays, but was otherwise generally well received by a populace keen for progress in all facets of life.

Buoyed by the success of his enterprise, Train attempted to replicate the service in London. Unfortunately, the tram rails stood too high above the roads there, disrupting traffic. Train was subsequently arrested for damaging the streets and his plans were halted. Nevertheless, common sense soon prevailed as Parliament permitted trams in the capital, from where the phenomenon spread into Europe.

The Wirral has long been a hub for cutting-edge transportation.

From shipbuilding expertise and railway innovation to pioneering underground tunnels, our peninsula has always found interesting ways to keep moving. However, many people are still surprised to discover that during the nineteenth century Birkenhead was home to the first street tramway in Europe. It’s a story cherished by local historians, but one that deserves greater attention from the masses.

So let’s take a step back in time and relive that gilded age.

It all began with an American chap named George Francis Train. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, the aptly named Train was a transport pioneer who made a fortune in shipping before turning to other projects. He also operated tram services in major US cities such as New Orleans, New York and Philadelphia, and yearned to export the concept around the globe.

A progressive who supported the Suffrage movement in his native land, Train eventually ran for US President as an independent candidate, but that came many years after his tramway exploits.

Initially, he homed in on Liverpool as an ideal starting point for his ventures in Britain, perhaps owing to the strong shipping heritage with which he was familiar. Nevertheless, Train couldn’t convince the authorities and his plans never gained traction.

Next, he turned his attention to Birkenhead, located just across the Mersey. The 30-year-old liked the town’s layout, which was similar to the grid pattern of many American cities. While a train service had operated between Chester and Birkenhead since 1840, and a horse-drawn omnibus was also popular, Train also saw a gap in the market. He managed to convince John Laird, chairman of the Birkenhead Commissioners, to grant a six-month trial to the idea of a street tramway, and plans moved on apace from there.

Liable for any damage incurred by the tramway, Train formed a company to oversee the project, then recruited labourers, before putting his vision into action. The parts for his trams were bought in America and then shipped to Wirral, where they were assembled swiftly. Each tram was 24 feet long and 7 feet wide, and capable of accommodating 48 passengers. The first trams would be horse-drawn, and it took just six weeks to install the lines, which ran from Woodside Ferry to the entrance of Birkenhead Park. By 30th August 1860, everything was set for launch as Birkenhead prepared to blaze a trail through the world of transportation.

The flamboyant Train laid on a lavish banquet to mark the opening of his creation. The lunch party began at two o’clock, ended at eight, and featured fine music and ample toasts. Train invited more than over 1,200 important guests, including many heads of state, most notably the Queen and Pope, but few could attend. Still, a large crowd assembled to watch the tramway’s inauguration at Hamilton Square, and a wonderful time was had by all.

But no matter where new lines were established around the world, Birkenhead was always deemed the spiritual home of street trams.

In August 1901, the service was electrified as part of Birkenhead Corporation Tramways, further improving reliability and timeliness. It remained that way until closing in 1937, when an economic depression coupled with the World War and increased popularity of motor buses signalled the end for Birkenhead trams. After 77 years the service was discontinued, ending a vibrant chapter in our history.

Train always enjoyed a colourful lifestyle that couldn’t be confined to one city, let alone one objective. Therefore, it’s difficult to decipher how involved he was with operations at Birkenhead. During his presidential campaign, the showman took an 80-day trip around the world, drumming up support both for his political and business ambitions. It is widely believed that this episode inspired Jules Verne’s Phileas Fogg character in Around the World in Eighty Days, but Train’s bid for power never gained serious momentum. Later in life, he became increasingly eccentric and attached himself to a wild variety of projects, before dying in New York City on 5th January 1904 at the age of 74.

It can be argued that the man did too much to be remembered for one sole act, but his contribution to Birkenhead, and to transport more generally, should never be forgotten in these parts. The Wirral Tramway and Transport Museum, based in Taylor Street, ensures that Birkenhead’s place in the tale of world travel will always be remembered. A ceremonial tram line is also in operation along part of the old route, affording visitors the opportunity to step back in time.

Ultimately, we have a lot to be satisfied about on the Wirral. Our peninsula has a diverse and captivating history, and has played a pioneering role in more areas than many people tend to appreciate.

Accepting, building and embracing Europe’s first street tramway is one of the more overlooked aspects of our heritage, and that deserves to change. Without George Francis Train and the progressive outlook of Birkenhead planners, a crucial step in the transport saga may have been skipped. Our forefathers played a huge role in helping Britain to move forward, and of that we should be immensely proud.

The Wirral Tramway and Transport Museum

14 The Lake

The latest news from West Kirby Sailing Club We are a very active club, so much has happened during the first half of the summer season.

We have fleets racing on the Marine Lake every evening and tidal racing when possible at weekends, plus some evenings when the water is available.

Highlights have been many: the Jubilee Pursuit Race, a tidal handicapped start, which was won by Jemima Riley in her Hilbre, but only after a dogged pursuit by second placed Marion Armstrong in her Firefly; then the Round Hilbre Island Race (so what did you do last weekend?) which was won by three Falcons, led by John Burthem.

The 67th Wilson Trophy, the county’s most prestigious team racing competition, was organised by a massive team headed by Chris Riley as Event Director and Judith Jackson as Event Secretary; it was very successful, with 30 top teams competing for the British Open Team Racing Championship.

Yet again, we managed over 350 races for a tense final between the West Kirby Sailing Club Hawks, last year’s winners, and Days of Thunder from the USA. Days of Thunder won the first two of the five finals but after umpires black-flagging them in the third race, and some terrifically close races, the WKSC Hawks won 3-2.

The Northwest Junior Travellers Trophy enables young sailors to get on a circuit of events away from home, being partly about racing, but enabling the less experienced sailors to be coached during it. This was another event which we were proud to host. The Mostyn Race attracted 53 boats,

and was a showcase for the International Canoes, who bagged the top five places.

Our Regatta started on the Friday night, in conjunction with Dee SC, with Juniors and Illusions on the lake. Octavia Owen and James Bromilow won the Cadets, George Creasy the Optimists, Alex Colquitt and Rob Giardelli won the Youth Handicap, and David Pilling the Illusions.

The tidal racing on the Saturday started in very light wind, presenting a huge challenge with the strong currents across the River Dee, which split the competitors up during the races, but as the wind rose the finishes were very close. The second race was in fair wind, giving a varied day out. Of note were the performances of the Albacores who won the handicap racing one, two and three, led by Mike Hartley, and the big tussle amongst the Hilbre fleet, in which Peter Bramley came out on top.

The Firefly Open was won by Paul and Laura Kameen, twice winners of the National Championships, but young Alex Colquitt excelled by gaining the second place. The Falcon fleet has been travelling to other kindred club regattas as well as sailing at home. Monday night adult beginner/improver sailing has been blessed by wonderful weather. It is relatively informal so both the volunteer coaches and participants have a great time.

Similarly, the Friday night Optimist and Saturday Oppy and Onboard junior training sessions have been very productive, thanks to a very dedicated coaching team.

We now have 30 Optimist sailors!

We have also run a Try Sailing Day, with 138 people of all ages given half-hour trips out on the lake! Many are now becoming the latest batch of keen new members, so it was a good day.

West Kirby Sailing Club has been particularly proud to host two major events. The RNLI West Kirby Lifeboat celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a presentation to their dedicated volunteers, and to Dave Henshaw, the Operations Manager, who deservedly received the gold award for long service. Then we hosted Dragon Boat Racing for the Headway charity for people with brain injuries. Ann Allister organised an event which last year raised over £20,000 to support patients whom the NHS struggles to fund.

Our proudest success so far this year is the gaining of first place in the 420 World Team Racing Qualifiers, with 11 wins out of 12 races, to represent Great Britain as GBR1 in Lake Garda by Octavia Owen, Amber Riggs, Ruby Riggs and Hebe Hemming. We wish them luck.

Forthcoming events: 23rd & 24th July: GP14 Northern Championships 3rd & 4th August: Coastal Championships Contact: Phil Shepherd, Commodore 0151 6255579, office@wksc.org.uk

The Lake 15

Introducing Remodel Renovations The building trade might be seen as not very good at communicating with clients – and not very good about providing quotes without hidden extras or keeping to a promised schedule for jobs instead of overrunning completion dates. My firm belief is that our clients shouldn’t have to pay more to get a prompt quotation and a transparent cost breakdown, and they shouldn’t be misled about timings for work. Prompt responses and transparent quotes should be standard elements in running a service-based business.

Now I’m not suggesting extra costs aren’t sometimes incurred or that projects never run over – it can happen. If an element of the build is changed or an unforeseen problem occurs, then it can affect the cost or the schedule, but the key is communication. If communication is clear and frequent between builder and client and both parties are on the same side, working together to make the project a smooth process, then the surprise of extra costs or extended completion dates are removed. In my experience it’s the failure to be kept up to date about a job that causes most relationship breakdowns with a client.

Remodel Renovations are delighted to be back in The Lake. As well as thanking our lovely clients, I would like to thank those readers who have offered us messages of support when they’ve seen us working on current projects across the Wirral. It’s been great to receive local support and we feel very encouraged.

When we added the new renovations division to Remodel in early 2015, some people asked if it was a ‘wise move’ as there are other builders on the Wirral and they believed that there could be too much competition. For me though, it’s not about competition, or how many other builders there are locally – it’s about concentrating on what we do and doing it well. It’s about ensuring that the service we offer is second to none. Just as important to me is that I don’t believe professional and reliable service should cost the client more – for us, this is just basic and comes as standard, regardless of the size of a project.

All of us at Remodel Renovations enjoy the good relationship we have with our clients. When we’re working in a family home, we are always sympathetic about the unavoidable intrusion it causes.

We pride ourselves on our tidiness, our efficiency and the well-organised project management that reduces the disruption.

Every client expects you to be able to build the extension, fit the bathroom or whatever the job may be, because we are builders and that’s what we do. But our clients always credit us for unexpected elements, like the tidy site, our approach to health and safety, our polite, presentable workforce, and of course, that we stay in touch as the job goes on. And from everyone on site right up to the project manager, our people are are friendly and approachable.

So my advice for anyone who is about to embark on a building project, would be not to employ a builder to work for you, but to employ a builder you can work together with. That’s the real secret to making sure your project will be completed to your satisfaction.

The Lake 17

18 The Lake

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The Lake 21

The proposed Hoylake Golf Resort has caused a lot of local debate. We gave two groups with differing opinions the chance to state their case in The Lake.

Firstly John Hutchinson, Chairman of Hoylake Golf Resort Committee gives their viewpoint...

About 15 years ago, Wirral Council proposed a golf resort comprising championship-style course, five-star hotel, restaurants, bars and fitness suite, but searches for a developer failed because building is allowed on Green Belt land in only “very special circumstances” and, being floodplain, was too costly to work.

Jones Lang LaSalle was commissioned in 2005 to make the case, which was adopted despite its lack of substantive and quantified evidence and comparisons with resorts that bear no resemblance to that proposed for Hoylake. Another report was commissioned in 2006, from Capita Symonds, but it said that there is very little chance of success at planning stage because the site is entirely Green Belt.

After another search in July 2015, the Nicklaus Joint Venture Group (NJVG) was appointed as Preferred Developer but its proposal had become a championship-style parks course with Links Academy, replaced Municipal Course and clubhouse, 250-bed four-star hotel with restaurants, bars, fitness suites, outbuildings, two new roads and, to meet the cost of earthworks, 150 plus houses.

The public were informed via local constituency meetings and press, which the Council confirms was limited and lacking in detail.

In late 2015, public consultation drop-in sessions were held, which it is generally agreed, lacked substance and information. The council conducted a survey that it says shows two-thirds of the community support the idea of a golf resort. In reality, it shows that two-thirds express doubts and concerns. The council’s request for comments produced 89 outright supporters and 1,311 questions and expressions of concern, which have not been answered. The promised report of that consultation is awaited. The analysed data, which the author will send to anyone wishing to draw their own conclusions, was passed to the council, but ignored. Freedom of Information Act (FoIA) requests and emails to Director of Regeneration yield information of little or no significance.

The HGR Committee was formed at a public meeting on 29 March 2016, with these instructions: 1. To make the Residents and Businesses of North Wirral aware of the existence of the Out of Town, Hoylake Golf Resort proposal and the impacts on Green Belt farmland and surrounding Neighbourhoods; and 2. To take the concerns of the public to Council.

Since then, other meetings have been held to which officials were invited so that the public might ask questions, but none attended.

Questions submitted to the council have received the response that because it is in the technical phase, the council is unable to answer. Technical questions have not been asked because we want to know only what happened before the appointment of Nicklaus.

The council cannot say how much the scheme has cost so far and that it does not know what the future cost might be. How the council can spend taxpayers’ money on a scheme with extraordinarily limited benefit without knowing the cost in a time of austerity, is beyond the comprehension of right and fair-minded people.

One concern for the resort is its impact upon our roads and traffic.

The Shire golf course, for example, was built, despite objections, on 185 acres of Green Belt floodplain similar to that of Hoylake, which will cover 285 acres.

About 35,000 trucks will take landfill to reshape Hoylake’s floodplain site, followed by 35,000 empty return journeys. More will be required to carry construction materials. There are only two routes from the M53 capable of carrying such vehicles: one is Hoylake Road to Heron Road, the other Saughall Massie Road. Both run through busy housing, shopping and commercial centres passing churches, schools and doctors.

The council has given no thought to how construction traffic will affect neighbourhoods or of the effect of 1,500 resident, visitor and service vehicles in and out of the resort every day.

The council has given no thought to the impact of the resort’s visitors and nothing of the residents of the 150 plus houses upon our hard-pressed emergency services, medical services, schools. How will they cope with this added burden?

Only at this late stage has Council commissioned, at extra cost to we taxpayers, a Feasibility Study on the impact of traffic on Heron Road.

There are also public concerns for impact upon the countryside. We do not understand how a golf resort with huge hotel, service roads, two courses and 150 plus houses could be considered as suitable for Green Belt land.

Revealed by FoIA request, was the recommendation that the ‘Langfields’, occupying approximately half the resort, should be a Site of Biological Importance (SBI). SBIs, without statutory protection, ensure in the public interest conservation, maintenance and enhancement of species and habitats of nature conservation value.

Sites are selected according to their habitat, diversity and rarity of species, and naturalness. These must be taken into consideration by the council when the planning application is received.

According to the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), the site has a ‘Tranquillity’ rating one step lower than that of Hilbre Islands, which has the highest. It is a valuable community asset used by walkers, cyclists, birdwatchers and those seeking peace and quiet from the hurly-burly of everyday life.

The council and the developer will say that wildlife concerns will be addressed and allowance made for walkers and cyclists. But the land will forever be changed by the golf resort. Today, it offers constantly changing views as farmers rotate their stocks and crops. Machinery is absent, most of the time. Golf courses fix the countryside bright green. Hundreds of people play their rounds. Dozens of machines apply fertiliser, pesticide, herbicide and mow the grass to ensure its all-year round playability.

The site’s eco-system is internationally recognised for its biodiversity, which will be lost despite the developer’s promises.

Lakes are important for the appearance of park-style courses and for irrigation. Achieving the vital balance of flow on and off the site will be difficult. The site is gently watered by the Birket and Newton Brook. If the lakes are too large, these might be emptied, leaving none for irrigation. If there is no flow off site, Meols Meadows Site of Scientific Interest will be damaged. If the lakes are too small, Meols and Moreton might be flooded. Water collected and reused for irrigation will become polluted with chemicals that make grass grow and control pests and weeds but could poison groundwater and destroy Meols Meadows SSSI. There are 14 Green Belt areas in England, which right-minded people will want to keep and improve with better farming and greater access as a community asset.

22 The Lake Council cannot sell the golf courses it owns yet it is proposing to squeeze into the community this extra golf course. Can Wirral’s struggling courses survive this competition?

Council sees Hoylake as ‘The Capital of the Golf Coast’ without consideration for the courses of Blackpool, Royal Lytham & St Annes, Hesketh, Royal Birkdale, Hillside, Southport & Ainsdale, Formby and West Lancs or the other 92 listed at golfbreaks.com.

Why would these want Hoylake’s resort to become their ‘capital’ from its position at the extreme south of the Golf Coast distant from the main North-South motorway network and international airports, rail hubs and termini?

Failure could happen for any reason. An internet search ‘golf courses for sale UK’ reveals dozens of courses and resorts, some nearby, that have failed. If, despite best endeavours, Hoylake’s fails, the land, no longer floodplain and free of Green Belt protection, could become a new town of 3,500 homes, the same size as Hoylake.

Hoylake Vision tell us their thoughts...

The Hoylake Development Plan ignores the neighbouring wards despite these suffering the consequences of development, including the resort. Because these wards will suffer greatly from both constructor and visitor traffic, while Hoylake remains safe and quiet, more public meetings will be held there.

Do you think town planning is out of your hands because ‘it’s all sewn up’? Perhaps you feel it is all in the realm of unscrupulous private developers, distracted politicians and disillusioned, overworked council officers. Or are you turned off by ‘public’ meetings that are taken over by opinionated NIMBYs? Or maybe you’re tired of writing to Councillors, or to newspapers and getting no answers, or signing petitions that seem to be ignored anyway? If so, you are part of the ‘silent majority’. This, then, is for you.

The HGR Committee is grateful to Cllr Gerry Ellis and Cllr Geoff Watt who have given voice to their concerns for the resort.

Visit our website http://www.hoylakegolfresort.uk/ and send your comments against and, particularly, for the Resort to contact@hoylakegolfresort.uk. They will receive a meaningful reply.

Proposed Hoylake Golf Resort

By Councillor Gerry Ellis Hoylake and Meols Ward including central West Kirby Since it was first proposed about five years ago I have, as a Hoylake councillor, consistently supported the concept of a Golf Resort at Hoylake, but I have become increasingly concerned about the difficulties that the scheme will face and I have now come to a conclusion that it will not succeed in the foreseeable future and it should be dropped before any more of council taxpayers money is spent on it.

My doubts began to develop when we saw the disappointing and amateurish public consultation exhibition last November in which there was no meaningful detail and very little information to satisfy residents’ (and councillors’) questions.

In considering the many potential problems I am coming to the conclusion that they are not likely to be able to be overcome.

On the issue of the loss of a large area of Green Belt, I am doubtful that the requirement of ‘very special circumstances’ will be able to be justified to allow 150+ luxury houses to be built on our existing municipal golf course. I’m also concerned that our road system, even with potential improvements, will not be able to cope with the construction and later the resort traffic; in particular I think that the residents of Heron Road would be faced with never-ending traffic congestion.

I think that the current feasibility study will identify big problems with the control of flood levels in the area which would require unacceptably large public expenditure to control.

Also I’m not happy with vague suggestions that the resort will provide a boost for Hoylake’s economy as the developers and subsequent operators are likely to bring in their own management teams with central servicing and purchasing policies. I agree that some construction and operating jobs could be filled from our local labour force but these will be the lower paid positions and would be a fairly small number.

A NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN FOR HOYLAKE Can you bear another referendum?

If you are more interested in a sensible, balanced conversation about development and investment and what happens in your local area, one that is informed by facts, that is based on meaningful public consultation, here’s a chance to make a difference... in Hoylake at least. But the model can be applied elsewhere. It’s called ‘Localism’.

It’s a new(ish) way of doing things that allows local businesses and residents to make a real difference in their locality, now and for the future, by initiating a Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP).

Sounds interesting. Is it going to happen?

Since 2011, a group of local volunteers has been working to create an NDP for Hoylake and that process is now almost complete.

It consists of a series of general ambitions for Hoylake and specific policies that, once approved by local people, must be taken into account by the Council when making planning decisions. A new Act of Parliament – the Localism Act 2011 – will ensure that this happens. A ready comparison is with the extra level of control available to protect conservation areas.

In Hoylake, there has been an extensive programme of public consultation that started with a ‘What’s Your Vision’ survey, promoted by a prominent billboard campaign, and followed up by a series of public open days and meetings. The survey was distributed to every household and business in Hoylake and secured 500 or so responses and many attended the public meetings.

A Forum and a small management group, made up of local people and business owners, have overseen the process identified by the Localism Act by meeting regularly and developing the plan with the benefit of independent professional support for what is a daunting, but worthwhile process.

Having produced a 70-page NDP and supporting documents to comply with the legislation, this NDP has now been tested and approved by an independent examiner to proceed to a formal referendum. This will be arranged by the Council and overseen by the Electoral Commission.

So, in the referendum, most likely to be held this coming autumn, Hoylake’s residents and businesses will be asked: “Do you want Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council to use the neighbourhood plan for Hoylake to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?”

If 50% plus one of those voting say ‘YES’, it will be passed and become a statutory part of the planning framework. In this way, local people will have much more say about which and what type of development occurs in their town. Is that worthwhile? We think so and we hope you do too.

The Lake 23 The same will be true if the Council brings forward proposals for a golf resort in Hoylake. There are many legitimate concerns being raised on this project based on the sketchy information released so far. However, with an NDP in place, the developer and the Council must comply with its policies and the interests of the residents and businesses will be better protected.

Similarly, if, as is rumoured, the Co-op is intending to relocate and release its land and properties in the town centre, then the NDP policies will come into play and put local views at the forefront of any planning application.

OK, but what does the Hoylake NDP say?

There are a series of ‘themes’ in the plan: Improving the High Street; Improving Hoylake’s Open Spaces; Getting Around Hoylake; Special Buildings and Places; Hoylake at Night; Celebrating and Promoting Hoylake; Industry Around Carr Lane, and Homes in Hoylake.

Firstly, it is important to understand that policies in the plan cannot permit or prevent development that existing national policies might allow. So, for example, existing Greenbelt protections cannot be undermined in any way by an NDP. But the NDP can add policies that offer greater protection and influence development to be in keeping with local demand and need.

Policies in the plan apply to developments within the NDP area, which matches the Township area almost exactly. Here you can see that part of the WMBC proposed Golf Resort is within the NDP area, since it is in the Hoylake Township boundary. So NDP policies, for example Policy H2, above, will be applied to any new development proposals in addition to, rather than instead of, existing legislation.

For example, NDP Policy H2 states: “All major residential proposals (i.e. 10 dwellings or more) must ensure that they address the housing needs of the whole community, including those who require affordable and specialist housing, based upon an up‐to‐date assessment of housing need in Hoylake.” So, the plan encourages new development, but only when it is appropriate and satisfies the requirements of the plan, according to the wishes of local people.

And what about after the Referendum?

Actually, the Hoylake NDP has some ‘teeth’ already. As the NDP ‘emerges’, it gathers increasing weight at each stage in the process.

Since it has been examined and passed for referendum, its power is already considerable.

The process to Referendum has been a long and frustrating one, but the NDP will run to 2020 when it will need to be renewed. The Forum management group are already anticipating making improvements to the existing plan, adding new themes and policies, and involving even more local people in preparation for that. Nevertheless, even in its current form, it gives local people more and better say in the future of their town.

This was most recently demonstrated when the policies in the plan were applied to an application to demolish the old Presbyterian Church in Alderley Road. Because the application conflicted with some of the NDP policies, it was refused. So, as you can see, it really does make a difference.

Perhaps you think there should be more in the plan about leisure provision for young people, or respite and care home provision, or greater protection and enhancement of the natural environment?

What are your priorities? Let us know and let’s find out together if others share your views.

When will it come into effect?

If you want to be involved in the plan moving forward, please read the plan first (available on the Council’s website and www.hoylakevision.org.uk then contact us by email at info@hoylakevision.org.uk And don’t forget to vote ‘YES’ in the referendum when it happens…

Remember, without a plan in place, we will have much less influence over what happens.

But I don’t live in Hoylake: so why should I care?

So far, over 120 NDPs have been produced around the UK; and of those, ALL have succeeded at referendum. It is hoped that many more will be created, giving more communities a greater say in what happens locally.

As a network of NDPs are created around the country, and on Wirral, we stand to see things developing in positive ways that will have immediate and longer term benefits for future generations. So why not start an NDP in your area? NDP areas may not overlap but they can be adjacent to each other.

Get in touch with Wirral Council to find out more.

The NDP policies were cited in the council’s refusal to demolish this fine local landmark, Alderley Road Presbyterian Church. The NDP would support residential conversion or another use, subject to policies in the plan, so developers are encouraged to work with us rather than in isolation. Surely this has to be a good thing.

The thoughts and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the individual contributors and do not reflect the views of the publishers.

W NE COLUMN

By Graham Simpson, Whitmore & White

Classic BBQ Wines Yes it’s that time of year again when you dig the BBQ out of the shed, dust it off, take a step back, look at it, give it a deeper clean and then realise that you’ll never get last year’s gunk off so go straight out and buy a new one. And you have to admit – we’ve all done it haven’t we?

So, you’ve got your new BBQ, all nice and shiny (for now) and you’ve gone out and bought more red meat than a caveman could eat in a month, more vegetable skewers than is surely legal. All you need now is some lovely wine to go with them. Because we like wine with BBQs. None of this beer stuff. Unless you like beer of course, and then it’s perfectly acceptable. And soft drinks. Let’s not forget them.

But it’s wine we’re really interested in isn’t it? Because wine goes brilliantly with BBQ food. And it’s a great al fresco drink anyway. Not just for roast dinners on rainy winter Sundays. Anyway, I digress.

Below are six sizzling summer BBQ wines for you to try.

Kung Fu Girl Riesling, Washington State, USA £14.95 Rieslings don’t get the recognition they deserve in the UK. This is an absolute shame because they are great wines for any occasion, but are especially good for barbies. The lime zest character and racy acidity are perfect with king prawns on skewers. Give it a go and you’ll see what I mean.

Ca dei Frati ‘I Frati’, Italy £16.95 Trebbiano di Lugana is a brilliant grape – a bit of a mouthful, but bear with me. It makes superb wines which are aromatic and rich with enough acidity in them to keep them fresh and perfect for food. Almost the perfect BBQ white wine with bold flavours for bold flavoured food. Try this with chicken, fish or Mediterranean vegetable skewers.

Donnafugata Sherazade Nero d’Avola, Italy £12.95 Another Italian wine, but this time from Sicily. The Nero d’Avola grape usually makes for medium bodied, easy drinking, cheap and cheerful wines. This wine is much more serious, with deep enough fruit and tannins to hold up to a wide range of BBQ food. A great all-rounder as they say.

Wolftrap Red, South Africa £9.95 A lovely, spicy South African red wine. A blend of Syrah (Shiraz) and Mourvedre, with just a touch of Viognier for elegance and finesse on the palate, this is a great wine to have with BBQ pork or beef kebabs.

Sevenhill Cellars Inigo Barbera, Australia £14.50 A big, juicy, fruit-bomb of a wine. The Barbera grape has found a ‘spiritual’ home here in the vineyards around Sevenhill Cellars winery in South Australia’s Clare Valley. And of course, Australian wines were made for barbies. This needs some barbecued lamb or pork chops for a great combination.

Predator Old Vines Zinfandel, California, USA £17.95 This is THE perfect BBQ wine. So smoky and rich and ripely succulent – it’s perfect for big, thick, juicy barbecued steaks. A classic.

Until next time, drink wine, drink well, drink with us, Graham

Whitmore & White to open in West Kirby Whitmore & White have announced that they are opening their third shop at 3 Banks Road in West Kirby. Their first shop was opened by four foodies and wine lovers Jamie, Joe, Laura and Graham in Heswall in 2014, with their second shop opening a year later over in Frodsham. In March of this year, W&W was crowned Best Delicatessen in Cheshire at the Taste Cheshire Food & Drink Awards and the company has been shortlisted for Independent Retailer of the Year at the Cheshire Life Food and Drink Awards.

West Kirby was always on the list as a potential place to open, but a lack of suitable premises stood in the way for some time. “We wanted to open here last year,” says wine and spirits guru Graham Simpson, “but we just couldn’t find anywhere suitable. When we heard that 3 Banks Rd was available we jumped at the chance, but had a bit of a battle on our hands as a large national chain also wanted the place! I think our independent credentials won out in the end, as the landlord seemed keen to do what was best for the town and other surrounding independent businesses.”

So what are Whitmore & White planning for West Kirby? “The concept is a bit different to how we started out in Heswall,” says Joe Whittick, chief foodie. “When we opened in Frodsham, we followed the trend and introduced more service alongside the food, wine and spirits, so fantastic locally roasted coffee, wine by the glass or bottle, gin tasting boards and a café du vin menu. Being able to constantly try new food and drink while sitting right in the shop you can buy it all from has proven hugely popular, so West Kirby will be all this and more.”

Anyone who has been into either their Heswall or Frodsham shops will know that Whitmore & White is an Aladdin’s Cave of food and drink, much of it from the surrounding area as well as further afield.

They import a lot of their own food from the continent, meaning much of what is on their shelves isn’t available anywhere else in the UK. This is no mean feat for a small independent business, but it is the only way they can get hold of all the superb food the continent doesn’t like to let go of! As well as the food, there is a terrific selection of wine, beer and spirits, with the emphasis very much on small producers, whether it’s a tiny vineyard in Tuscany, local micro-brewery or small batch gin distillery. The gang are also famed for their wine, gin and whisky tasting evenings, and their calendar of events will be online soon at www.whitmoreandwhite.co.uk

26 The Lake

Fragments from the Front This series of short articles by Rastus and Betty looks at a soldier’s close connection and correspondence with his West Kirby family from the Western Front trenches during WW1.

Apart from the occasional short anecdote Joseph had told his young, enquiring grandson, Betty had little inkling of where and what her father was doing in WW1 except the scant knowledge he was working with the Chinese. These treasured postcards of nearly 100 years ago, ‘found’ by chance, have shed some light into his WW1 deeds. We now know that Joseph was in the trenches in 1917 in both France and Belgium and immediately post-war he was working with the Chinese Labour Corps in France.

Homesickness was a constant theme in letters and postcards sent from soldiers in the trenches. This was temporarily relieved by news from home, which lifted the spirits and morale of soldiers and gave them reassurances that they were not forgotten and were constantly remembered and loved by those at home. Apart from recognition and receipt of ‘goodies’ acknowledged in Joseph’s postcards, we do not have any of the postcards his sister, Annie, his mother and father and friends sent him.

Apparently there were three different kind of postcards available to soldiers on the Western Front: official ‘field postcards’ – offering a pre-printed menu of options – very impersonal; inexpensive, commercial picture postcards; and carefully embroidered postcards intended as keepsakes. Only the latter two categories are in our collection.

Parcels provided much-needed comfort. Home-made delicacies and staple food items supplemented the monotonous and inadequate army rations. Joseph welcomed these regular treats of bread, butter and cheese (Cheshire cheese to be sure!) and he had obviously learnt his lesson about how not to share these scarce and much desired delicacies with the rats, by hanging them out of reach from the rafters in the trenches! These parcelled supplies must have been sacrificed from the meagre food allowance of those at home.

In this ‘Fragment’ we attach another four postcards from the Western Front, with brief comments.

We are pleased to inform that we have since found out that Tom Christie did get “out of it” and was happily married in 1920.

Nov 20 1917 A thought from the Trenches

To: Father + Mother from somewhere in France.

15th June 1917

Joseph

Dear Annie

This is one of the few ‘non-newsy’ postcards we have. Joseph may have been instructed to write home in his own handwriting to his parents reassuring them he was ‘in the pink’ and still alive. Perhaps he was in a military or politically sensitive area. Or maybe there was the threat of censorship and the possibility of destruction of the postcard if he divulged his location!

Excuse card, but to tell you the truth I hardly know what to put in a letter but will write you one next time. I received your very nice parcel & letter in a good and sound condition, which I liked very much. Pleased to say the rats did not get at it this time. I took good care and hung it on a string from the roof. Let me know how Tom Christie went today. I hope he has got out of it, but I think there is little hope for him.

Your brother Joseph

We will never know. However, it gives us another opportunity to witness Joseph’s beautiful handwriting, or should we say, self-taught calligraphy skills – for a young man with a maimed writing hand it must have taken ages to pen this postcard, obviously with much care, attention and love.

The Lake 27

“…it will be quite a change from this very lonely place...”

“My Dear Sister Just a pc to keep you smiling. I must say your letters are few and far between, nowadays. I shall have to give you a talking-to when I come home on leave again, Annie. My leave with several others, went through to Group yesterday, so all being well I shall be coming home about the end of September, but not for good. Anyway it will be quite a change from this very lonely place, as you will see from the postcards.

Joseph Please forward me some press buttons, hooks and eyes.

Dear Annie This is the hill, in which I found this lovely piece of heather on.

Annie so thought I would send you a piece.

Joseph One can only imagine that Joseph’s thoughts were focused on his beloved Caldy Hill when writing this postcard to his sister. Two completely different locations – but war cannot destroy everything – and the surprise and joy for Joseph of finding a sprig of heather on the totally destroyed and desolate Kemmel Hill battleground must have been wonderful. Sending heather to West Kirby must have been a bit like ‘sending coals to Newcastle’, but the pleasures and the emotional memories it must have given Joseph is evident in his words to his dear sister.

This is a humorous reprimand to his older sister. Joseph wouldn’t have had much to smile about in the trenches, but it’s good to see his spirits are up and he is obviously looking forward to coming home, albeit only for a short break.

You may think that his request for haberdashery supplies is a bit unusual, but as we’ve already alluded to, Joseph was a proficient sewer and knitter. He had been well taught by Annie and we suspect it was part of the occupational therapy for his injured hand. It obviously was a bonus and we can imagine him being in great demand, sewing on buttons, hooks and eyes on his comrades’ uniforms. We wouldn’t mind betting that he also knitted socks, gloves and mufflers.

Next Issue: More WW1 postcards from the Western Front

West Kirby Methodist Church joins English Heritage Open Days West Kirby Methodist Church is once again going to open its doors as part of the English Heritage Open Days during September.

Opened in 1904, the church is unusual for the quality of its stained glass, including war memorial windows to members of the church. Several windows, including the WWI memorial window which tells a story from the life of King David and the triptych window above the communion table, were produced by Percy Bacon Brothers.

This well-known company made windows for buildings across the British Empire.

One of the newer windows, recalling the story of the Parable of the Good Samaritan was designed by Carter Preston, who was responsible for some of the windows in Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.

The original pine panelling in the chancel was replaced in the 1930s by high-quality Art Deco-style walnut veneer, designed by Cordingley & McIntyre of Manchester.

At the same time the original organ was replaced by a larger instrument made by Henry Willis and Sons. The instrument is in regular use and will be played during the weekend.

The church was the place of worship for the families of Selwyn Lloyd (one time Foreign Secretary, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Speaker of the House of Commons) and James Bibby (a Liverpool industrialist). In later years the church had very strong links with the West Kirby RAF camp, providing social events for the men doing National Service. All these connections are evident in the church’s windows, furniture and fittings.

Displays and an information leaflet are available to help visitors. Wheelchair disabled access is in place and no booking is required.

Opening Times: Friday September 9th and Saturday September 10th, 10am – 4pm West Kirby Methodist Church is on Westbourne Road CH48 4DQ. Further details about the church’s heritage and its current activities are available on the church website, www.westkirbymethodist.org or by calling the Church Office on 0151 625 3224.

28 The Lake

Rachie B was created by West Kirby resident Rachel Williams to produce children’s bespoke wallpaper murals. She tailors a range of bespoke wallpaper murals for children and teenagers and businesses, ranging from commercial nurseries to pubs and restaurants.

Rachel told The Lake: “I live in the centre of West Kirby with my husband Bruce and we have four daughters. My youngest, Lonie, wanted to have a garden in her bedroom. I was really not happy with all the usual wallpaper on offer, and I didn’t want a stranger in my house for a few days painting a mural as that would have been inconvenient. You also never really know what you’re going to get until it’s on your wall.

“It was then that I created Rachie B. I started with the Garden Mural with a white picket fence and Lonnie’s name on the mailbox, and from friends’ requests, I created Pirate, Superhero, Princess Castle, Fairy Tea Party etc. I have since created wallpaper murals for dementia wards with tranquil garden themes that are peaceful to look at, as well as commercial nurseries with a fun but educational theme, and even Skoda garages!

“To order it is £49 per sq. metre for each customer. They give me their exact wall measurements and any specifications, such as child’s name, football team, colours, etc. I provide a full quote and always send a proof via email for the customer to agree to. The whole process takes no longer than two weeks from start to finish if they choose one of my existing designs. If a customer wants something new, created from their own ideas, it would take a little longer.

“You can find me on Facebook as Rachie B Wallpaper and also on Twitter as Rachie B Designs.”

Port Sunlight Events Monday 1st August – Wednesday 31st August

Guided daily walking tours of Port Sunlight Village 11.30am and 2pm Call 0151 644 6466 to find out more.

Walks begin at Port Sunlight Museum Sunday 7th August

Port Sunlight Fun Dog Show Museum Green opposite Port Sunlight Museum Over 400 dogs took part in 2015!

Lots of categories to choose from. £1 per heat. Free entry to viewers.

11am – 4pm. Port Sunlight Village Tuesday 9th August

Folksy Outdoor Theatre presents: The Smartest Giant in Town Perfect for children to enjoy!

Starts at 6.30pm. In The Dell, Port Sunlight Tickets direct from www.folksytheatre.co.uk Wednesday 10th August

Folksy Outdoor Theatre presents: As You Like It Perfect for grown-ups!

Starts at 7pm. In The Dell, Port Sunlight Tickets direct from www.folksytheatre.co.uk

A whole basket of options to choose from • Would you like us to just find a tenant for you?

• Would you like us to collect the rent for you?

• Would you like us to manage the property on a daily basis for you?

• Would you like us to pay the rent regardless of whether we have been paid?

There are lots of different ways in which we can work with you, not all letting agents can make that promise, get in touch to let us know how you would like us to work with you.

Northwood Wirral

0151 348 4527

78 Telegraph Rd, Heswall, Wirral CH60 0AQ northwooduk.com

30 The Lake

Pressure Washing, Treatment & Sealing: Driveways, Patios, Pathways, Decking, Garden Furniture & other hard surfaces

Guttering & uPVC Cleaning:

Gutter Clearing, Camera Inspection, Gutter Cleaning, Fascia & Soffits, Conservatories, Window Frames

Contact us for a Quote on:

0151 632 4735 07486 910189

www.evercleanoutdoor.co.uk

Complete Camaro LVT range on display FREE SAMPLE SERVICE HESWALL CARPETS/SAUNDERS FLOORING 208 Pensby Road, Heswall, CH60 7RJ (opposite Sainsburys)

Telephone: 0151 342 0008

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Ask about our expert fitting service

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Free samples available • Full range of accessories

208 Pensby Road, Heswall, CH60 7RJ (opposite Sainsburys)

208 Pensby Road, Heswall, CH60 7RJ (opposite Sainsburys)

Telephone: 0151 342 0008

Telephone: 0151 342 0008

You will have probably seen the summer planting of Hoylake and Meols is now nearly completed, thanks to the Friends, our wonderful volunteers, pulling out all the stops to help the village SMILE. The Begonia already looks amazing. The final summer planting was completed when the 16 roundabout barrier baskets were installed. We have teams ready to keep them all watered in this hot weather and look after them for everyone to enjoy.

Now the main planting is done we can look forward to this year’s Friends of Hoylake and Meols in Bloom’s events. These events, apart from bringing people together in our wonderful parks, are very important as they help fund what we do to help our village and parks SMILE. We always try to run events on a zero cost basis and very much appreciate the support we get from local businesses and the performing artists who give up their time to entertain us.

On Sunday 31st July we will be having our second Family Fun Dog show in Queens Park. If you came last year you will know what a brilliant day it was, a day definitely not to miss. We always hope for good weather, but the show will go on whatever the weather does – just bring a brolly.

In Queens Park, the Nepeta hedge the Friends planted last year is already looking superb, and the round bed with the newly planted Queen Elizabeth roses with a circle of Nepeta around them is coming on. If you stand next to the beds you can hear the wonderful, gentle buzzing of bees going about their work.

In the Parade Gardens we have now completed the rendering of the mural wall and shortly hope to have it painted. We can then reinstall the murals to bring it all to life. The Seaside bed is doing particularly well; with so many wonderful plants it is hard to know where to look. The three long beds are also doing well, apart from a few plants that are feeling the lack of rain. The Grasses bed is also growing well; hopefully this will become the same brilliant display that it was last year. You may have seen we have redesigned the Wildflower bed by making it more seaside themed with an upturned boat, rope and other seaside objects. We have sown wild flowers through a wave of Molinia grass and these are making good progress.

Queens Park Nepeta hedge

32 The Lake

Kayakers stick their ‘oar’ in for charity A group of nearly 40 kayakers stuck their oars (or paddles) in for over ten hours for the Coastal Kayak Challenge on 12th June to raise funds for charities including Claire House Children’s Hospice, The MS Society, the ITU ward at Arrowe Park Hospital and The British Heart Foundation. With the initial total for this year already reaching £1,500, the event – which is now in its fifth year – has raised over £12,000 for charities to date.

The challenge, which takes place on the same day as the Wirral Coastal Walk every year, sees the hardy paddlers kayak from Harrison Drive in New Brighton to Thurstaston – with a small respite at Hilbre Island to wait for the tid.e

Two Courses £14.50 from

per person

Tuesday Wine Offer £15.50 per person For latest menus and offers go to

www.juliansrestaurant.co.uk

Organised by local kayaker Mike Dudley and his loyal team, the event has gone from just five participants in 2012 to 38 this year and has now attracted support from local businesses. Upton-based National Marine Safety Boats provided safety boat cover for the event this year and they were so impressed that Managing Director Jon Henshaw and Operations Manager Tom Whittle even took up the gauntlet (or paddle) themselves and took part. “I think it’s a great thing that Mike [Dudley] has done for the past five years and I couldn’t resist taking part myself,” said Jon Henshaw from National Marine. Chester Kayak Hire also provided kayaks at a reduced rate.

Organiser Mike Dudley commented: “It’s great to see the event really gaining momentum.” This has inspired Mike to organise another event this year: a river-based challenge in Bangor-on-Dee. “The idea is to allow people who may be less confident in taking part in a coastal event to join in the fundraising efforts – and the fun.” He added: “We have people who’ve never kayaked before and also two-seater kayaks for those who may not be as physically able.”

To find out more about the event on 24th July or to sign up, visit www.facebook.com/kayakchallengewirral

Julian’s Cookery Masterclasses

£80.00 per person (Includes a £20.00 meal voucher)

Sunday Mornings Only Two people per class Totally Hands On (Four hours of fun making home made bread, soup, main and dessert. Learn some tricks of the trade along the way. And invite a friend to come taste your efforts with a glass of wine)

Call in or ring 632 6241 and speak to Julian or Jackie for more details.

Restaurant available for private functions

The Lake 33

Intelligent Electric Heating: Tailored to suit your Home and Lifestyle If you’ve suffered an old-fashioned electric night storage heater system for too long, now could well be the time to change. And not only will you be warmer and more comfortable in your home, you will be amazed at how a new heating system from North West Heating Solutions can transform the look of your home.

North West Heating Solutions are a growing family business serving the North West, Wales and Shropshire. The company supplies intelligent German-made advanced electric storage radiators, which can be used as you wish 24 hours a day, and which, they say, beat old Economy 7 storage heaters hands down, by providing heat on demand all day and night if required.

Available with a range of controls, including a unique and high-tech ‘Heatapp’, this intuitive system takes adjusting the warmth in your home to a new level. Cleverly designed to automatically monitor room temperature, the radiators can switch themselves on and off so that you only pay for the heat when you need it. There is no more guesswork either, as this exclusive piece of technology can also measure the consumption of each radiator so you can easily see the exact running cost of your heating.

North West Heating Solutions believe that when choosing your radiators you should have choice, like everything else in your home. So, with over 60 different sizes of slim-line radiators and a choice of over 200 stunning colours, chances are not only will you save money, your home will have the added advantage of looking truly stylish.

Managing Director David Lukeman says: “The installation of our heating is quick, clean, makes no mess and is usually completed within one day.” David aims to see every client personally, whenever possible, to conduct a survey and establish what is needed in order to design an efficient and sophisticated system especially to suit their needs.

Upgrading to a modern, stylish and intelligent 21st century heating system couldn’t be simpler.

For more information visit our website – www.northwestheatingsolutions.co.uk or call 01244 371445.

Caldy Village Gardens The organisers of the Caldy Village Open Garden Day would like to thank all the supporters who appeared in their hundreds on May 22nd 2016 to raise funds for North West Cancer Research. The weather in the morning was dull and damp, but after lunch the sky cleared and the sun shone for the rest of the day, helping to create a wonderful atmosphere as visitors wandered round the gardens of 11 houses in the village as well as those of the Church and the Manor. Again we raised over £11,000, and are really grateful for the support and goodwill from across the Wirral in achieving this magnificent result. There was a lot of positive feedback about the changes we introduced this year, and we hope the new catering arrangements benefitted everyone as well as the kitchen volunteers who definitely found self-service much easier to manage. The retailers who sold tickets in advance for us did an excellent job and congestion at entry points was much reduced.

However, we have decided to take a break from opening next spring, so that we can refresh some of the more tired gardens and seek out some new ones, but we look forward to seeing our regular visitors again in 2018. Watch this space!’

34 The Lake

Shedding light on beach beauty hang-ups Sweating it: Excessive sweating (Hyperhidrosis) can cause upset and embarrassment at any time of the year, but it becomes a major headache during warmer weather. Many suffer without realising it can be addressed. Botox® injections really help in reducing hyperhidrosis in areas such as the armpit. For the face, use a matt mineral, powder-based make-up that will not go shiny or clog.

Warts and all: Warts, verrucae, skin tags, red veins? It’s not always our body shape that makes us dread stripping off.

Blemishes can be just as worrisome. Again, these can be treated by suitably qualified aestheticians. Cryotherapy works wonders on warts, verrucae, Campbell de Morgan spots (cherry angioma) and more, while a specialist clinician can remove skin tags, red veins, milia (blocked oil glands), etc., non-surgically.

The British weather causes problems for us whatever it does. If we don’t get a summer we complain, but if the sun shows its face we panic. After all, it means we can no longer hide bulges away under a poncho and you may have to fling off your opaque support tights.

Tracey Locke, lead clinician at Serenity Clinic Ltd, sheds some light on how to ‘shine’ on the inside and out.

It’s not just spare tyres or hair that bother my clients when the sun shines. From excessive sweating to melting make-up and warts – the summer opens a Pandora’s Box of insecurities.

Here are some of the more common (and also far less discussed) problems and how to deal with them: Bikini bulge: If the diet’s not gone to plan, the thought of stripping off can be really depressing. But, if you don’t love your ‘love’ handles (or your tummy, legs, tops of your arms or bottom), there are great ways to address this non-surgically.

Cavitation (or ‘Fat Popping’) produces fantastic results on larger areas of unwanted flab and quickly. If you’re just looking for a really quick, albeit temporary, fix – maybe for a special occasion such as a wedding, the Shrinking Violet body wrap can rid you of inches in a single treatment.

Apple or pear: We all have different body shapes, but that doesn’t mean you have to put up with your ‘bad bits’. For those stubborn areas of fat that don’t seem to shift from arms, tummy, bottom or thighs, however hard you diet or exercise, Cryolipolysis is the answer. It literally freezes fat cells and destroys them (rather than just emptying them as a laser does), so it can be focused on areas where you have a predisposition to carry fat.

Slimmer but saggy: You’ve worked hard to lose weight, but it seems you’ve just created the different problem: saggy, loose skin – or you’re just ageing a little and you have the same worry – then skin tightening is the answer! It produces incredible results on the body, neck, chin and face by tightening and lifting for a smoother, tauter contour. If cellulite is your problem, skin tightening can improve this, too, as can specialist cellulite massages.

Wrinkle magnifier: Many people (rightly) think that wrinkles get worse in summer. Tanning can also make wrinkles look more pronounced. There are many things you can do though, ranging from Botox® and dermal fillers to Vitamin A & C aesthetic facials to non-surgical Fibroblast (collagen) boosting face lifts such as the Venus Freeze, or Mediwave toning for the wrinkle-prone eye area. UVA penetrates so deeply it can damage the actual collagen support structures that keep our skin firm and smooth. Attack ageing from the inside with collagen drinks such as Skinade.

Melting make-up: Warm weather can play havoc with make-up. When it comes to lashes, panda eyes can be easily banished with a lash tint or semi-permanent lashes.

As for eyeliner, brows and lips, semi-permanent make-up is a great option. It banishes any bleed or smudging and you wake up with perfect make-up every day! For foundation, steer clear of heavy products that ‘melt’ in the heat. Opt for mineral make-ups (with SPF protection) that give a matt finish.

Tanning – fake it or bake it: There is one simple answer: fake it! The ageing and health effects of UVA and UVB are well known, which is why it’s vital to use SPF 50 sun protection, wear a hat and sunglasses. A spray tan gives you an instant confidence boost and any good technician will be able to offer you a choice of shades to suit your complexion.

These shouldn’t include orange!

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

The Lake 35

On Your Bike – the Wirral Bikeathon

By Robert Foster June 12th saw men, women and children turn up in droves to take part in the 2016 Wirral Bikeathon, backed by Olympic gold medallist and all-round cycling legend Chris Boardman. Spirits were high as crowds gathered at Arrowe Park – surprisingly, it seemed most weren’t fazed by the prospect of a gruelling 28-mile bike ride, zigzagging across West Wirral.

Eager entrants ranged from seasoned, Lycra-clad cycling enthusiasts to more wobbly occasional riders, as well as an army of in-betweeners covering all age groups and abilities – all standards of rider were welcomed with open arms. As the riders got ready for the off, the sea of glistening helmets at the start line was a sight to behold – it really was a fantastic turn out.

The route was split into two sections, meaning those less accustomed to monster bike rides could partake in an ever-so-slightly less punishing 14-mile cycle. But those committed to the full 28 miles rode from Arrowe Park towards Caldy, joining the Wirral Way and following the coast to Moreton. From there it was back to Arrowe Park for a quick pit-stop before riding south to Thornton Hough, through Brimstage, Storeton and all the way back to Arrowe Park – possibly to collapse in a heap…

Seventeen years ago, in the summer of ’99, the foundations were laid for what has become one of Wirral’s most anticipated charity events – the Wirral Bikeathon. That first summer saw 700 dedicated fundraisers dig their bikes out of the shed in order to cycle their way to raising an impressive £23,000 for national leukaemia charity Bloodwise.

Bloodwise are at the heart of the Bikeathon and they’re dedicated to fighting blood cancer. Leukaemia and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma are perhaps the most recognised forms of blood cancer, but there are 137 types in all. It’s a startling fact that someone is diagnosed with blood cancer every 14 minutes in the United Kingdom, which adds up to a staggering 38,000 individuals each year.

The first Bikeathon set the bar high in terms of participation, commitment and generosity. Now, every summer, dedicated cyclists from across the country flock to Wirral for a fun-filled day on wheels. As usual, this year was no exception.

It’s easy for those who have not been affected in some way to forget the real reason the Bikeathon takes place. Many participants have dealt with blood cancer first hand and are taking brave steps to tackle the disease head on. One family in particular are determined to show blood cancer who’s the boss, cycling every year in the memory of Dave Griffiths, who lost his battle with l eukaemia in 2005 at the age of 37.

Dave’s family have wholeheartedly embraced the Bikeathon, and there is no doubting how immensely proud he would be of his daughter Amy’s dedicated fundraising. She completed her first Bikeathon riding a tiny pink bicycle with tassels on the handlebars and stabilisers to keep her from toppling over; a far cry from the adult bike she now rides. 2016 saw Amy complete her ninth Bikeathon, accompanied by a whole host of family and friends, all determined to celebrate Dave’s memory and raise as much money as possible to help support Bloodwise.

The Wirral Bikeathon continues to flourish and seems set to go from strength to strength. Cyclists may not be top of everyone’s Christmas card list, but even the most impatient motorist can’t fail to applaud the fantastic achievements of Amy and the hundreds of other participants as they continue their committed fight against blood cancer.

Crowdfunding Campaign Elizabeth Marshall from West Kirby has contacted The Lake regarding a crowdfunding campaign she has launched to help fund her PhD at the University of St Andrews.

Elizabeth told The Lake: “I will be investigating the ways in which wolves are portrayed in Anglo-Saxon traditions, language and writing. The PhD is my next step towards my ambition of an academic career in Medieval English Literature. It follows on from a first class honours in English Literature at the University of Manchester, and my current Masters studies in Medieval English Literature at the University of St Andrews.

“I am also a keen conservationist, and I hope that by understanding past perceptions of wolves my research will help inform and influence modern-day attitudes and prejudices towards these top predators, and aid their conservation and reintroduction.

“I have been awarded a scholarship from the University of St Andrews towards my fees, and have secured part-time work that will partially cover my accommodation and living costs. I am seeking the remaining one-third of the funds needed for the successful completion of the PhD from a crowdfunding campaign.”

You can see more details about the aim of Elizabeth’s project at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/the-wolf-in-the-story-help-support-lizzies-phd

36 The Lake

Charles Stephens invests in the future The summer is fast approaching (or so we’ve been told) and you still haven’t found the time to start your new fitness regime.

Whether it’s work, a busy social calendar or family life, we’ve all got an excuse as to why we can’t do a workout today – but with the rise of short workouts (I’m talking 7–20 minutes max), are your excuses still valid?

Here Zara Wylie, Fitness Coach at Fitness Queen bootcamp, explains whether short workouts actually get results or if they are really just too good to be true.

Can I really get a good workout in 20 mins?

There is no escaping the fact that the best type of workout is one that you complete. For some that may be a 10-mile run on a Sunday, but for most it’s squeezing in a quick HIIT (high intensity interval training) session between getting the kids to bed and having to start on that mountain of ironing.

Studies have proved that doing a 10–20 minute high-intensity workout can actually be more effective than a 60–90 minute workout at a moderate level. This is because every time that you workout your metabolism is boosted – while your metabolism is returning to a normal level, it’s still burning calories. During moderate level exercise your metabolism doesn’t reach its peak and so it takes less effort to return to normal. During HIIT style sessions your metabolism soars and so it takes more time and calories to return to normal.

How do I workout in only 20 mins?

Although short workouts are great, you need to make sure that you are getting the right type of exercise. A 20-minute walk won’t be better for you than a 40-minute run for example. For optimum results you need to do an HIIT style workout. This is where you workout to your max for a set period of time and then relax. That means doing 40 seconds of sprints and then 20 seconds rest. This type of workout constantly pushes the metabolism for optimum calorie burn.

It also improves fitness levels by pushing the heart rate to a higher level than you would reach during more moderate level exercise.

So shorter workouts are better?

The verdict is still out on this one. Personally, I am a keen runner and wouldn’t miss my three weekly runs for the world. On the other hand, when I am strapped for time, I love squeezing in a 15-minute sweaty HIIT session.

There is no right and wrong amount of time to exercise for. The most important thing is to fit in what you can, do workouts that you enjoy, listen to what your body can cope with and gently push yourself to always improve.

If you want help but don’t know where to start, why not join Fitness Queen women only bootcamps? Sessions currently run in Heswall and our years of success means that we know exactly what you need to reach your goals. We are serious about fitness, but at the same time always manage to have a laugh.

The Wirral’s largest independent funeral directors has begun a major programme of investment across its business.

Charles Stephens has opened a new branch in West Kirby and carried out a refit of its Heswall office.

During the next 18 months, the remaining five branches – Rock Ferry, Neston, Little Neston, Bromborough and Claughton – will also undergo refurbishment. The programme coincides with the 120th anniversary this year of the fourth-generation family company.

Gemma Stephens, Managing Director of Charles Stephens, said: “We are extremely proud of our history of providing people in Wirral with a dignified funeral. Our staff remain committed to the traditions of providing the very best funeral services while, at the same time, ensuring we meet the requirements of today’s families.

“We are investing in our business on a number of different levels, most noticeably in terms of our new funeral home in West Kirby and the refurbishment of our other branches.”

Gemma added: “We also believe passionately in the importance of investing in our people through apprenticeships and by ensuring that all our funeral arrangers have passed professional qualifications recognised by the National Association of Funeral Directors.

“As an independent family business, we have more flexibility than the larger national brands which means we can more readily adapt funeral arrangements to meet the specific requests of families.”

The firm is seeing an increasing number of people are purchasing pre-paid funeral plans. These plans provide people with a caring, cost-effective way to put their arrangements in place. It also means a family member’s wishes will be carried out with the greatest care, respect and attention to detail.

The firm was founded in 1896 by Charles Stephens and in 1993 merged with Henry Norman, another long-established Wirral funeral directors.

Gemma Stephens took over as Managing Director from her father Jeremy six years ago. Jeremy continues to act as a senior consultant to the family business.

We guarantee results in just 21 days, so what are you waiting for?

Sign up for your free one-week trial now. Contact me on one of the three ways below: Email: zara.wylie@gmail.com Tel: 07702844984 Facebook: fitnessqueen Zara x

@lakewirral

The Lake 37

Chairman Rod Tann discusses current issues concerning The Wirral Society It is with some concern we hear there is a possibility that Barclay’s Meadow on Grange Road West Kirby, also known as the ‘Sheep Field’, might not remain as open land. It would be sad to see it developed because to see the sheep grazing there is, for many, a charming reminder of life in old West Kirby. We hope that it might be possible for it to be kept as a valued open space in the town.

The Society was pleased to see growing opposition from local councillors to the proposed Golf Resort between Hoylake and West Kirby. We have been involved in helping form a local group, whose main objective is to raise the public’s awareness of what we believe to be an uneconomic scheme, and to highlight the potential loss of so much Green Belt farmland to monoculture and inappropriate housing development. The group is collecting as much information as it can find, and is making it available on its new website www.hoylakegolfresort.UK

The Wirral Society was one of the few organisations (or individuals) that objected to the application for this extension. Our objection was based primarily on the further industrialisation of our north Wirral seascape, set against their inefficiency and high cost of public subsidy. Sadly, though, because of its perceived generation capability, government energy policies treated it as being a ‘National Infrastructure Project’ so there was little chance of it being refused.

Windturbine bases at Cammell Lairds

In an earlier edition of The Lake, I described the prospect of a major housing development which will replace part of the old Burton’s Biscuit (formerly Cadbury’s) factory at Pasture Road, Moreton.

A planning application has now been submitted. The Society is supporting this application, as we hope this will help both bring some much-needed prosperity to Moreton town centre and also help relieve pressure for development in Wirral’s Green Belt. We are also supporting Wallasey Civic Society in its bid to ensure that the important water cascade alongside the factory site, known as the Water Feature, is restored as a condition of planning approval.

So now we know – according to a recent newspaper report, the extension to the existing 25-strong Burbo Bank ‘inshore’ wind farm off Hoylake and Meols, whose foundation drilling have been disturbing local residents, will comprise no fewer than 75 of the largest wind turbines ever commercially deployed. This will bring the total number of turbines in this wind farm to 100. The blades will each span 164 feet in diameter, so their tips will reach 640ft above sea level. Their ‘Installed Capacity’, i.e. their generating capacity, if each turbine were to turn continuously, is reported to be an impressive 8Kw. However, as they can only turn when the wind is neither too weak nor too strong, judging by the performance of the existing turbines, they are only going to generate power for about one-third of the time, thus reducing their ‘Load Factor’, i.e. their actual output, to around a mere 3Kw each.

Litter continues to be a problem in our area – as indeed it is everywhere – with rural roads, especially lay-bys, being particularly affected. Council resources understandably do not allow frequent collection, so it steadily accumulates and can become temporarily obscured by growing foliage. This was the case in Saughall Massie Road recently, where no fewer than 127 separate items of litter, including 15 larger items (i.e. sacks etc) were counted in this lay-by.

It’s good to note it has now been cleared by the Council.

38 The Lake

All Things Auctioneering

by John Bathurst Crane

Are you the proud owner of steamed tapered legs by any chance? Well, if not, it is high time you searched for some! They are very desirable!

Not so many years ago, skips were full of what is now referred to as ‘mid-century’ furniture, and yes, I have to admit it, we filled many a skip in the 1980s and early ’90s with furniture now worth thousands of pounds.

Recently, not far from Heswall, a client would not wait for us to collect her furniture for auction and actually paid someone hundreds of pounds to ‘clear her relative’s house’, thus virtually giving away several thousands of pounds! Hey ho. Such unfortunate haste happens all too often, if the truth be told!

In furniture, look out for Ercol, G Plan, G Plan Danish, Merrow, Hille and Archie Shine and even early Stag names and styles, though many pieces are not marked with any maker’s name so you do need to be aware of the different styles and qualities. The Ercol factory in High Wycombe was founded by Lucian Ercolani, a Florentine designer who exhibited at the ‘Britain Can Make It’ exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in 1946 and the ‘Festival of Britain’, which I well remember visiting, in 1951.

supplied the famous London stores, Harrods and Heals. Their furniture is of high quality, understated design and constructed from rosewood, glass, and chromium plated or stainless steel. Even the screw heads were plated to match the table supports. The designs were made in small batches of 50 pieces. They are not so rare though as you might expect and examples do turn up on my home visits every month. The prices have gone up tenfold over the last five years!

Antique furniture is still desirable but it has to be very top quality and finest condition to make the big money now.

Not only furniture is collected – all other household furnishing accessories are sought by collectors. Lamps, mirrors, china and cutlery, together with ‘bark-finish’ effect jewellery, can all be viewed with fresh eyes!

The 70s are now an extremely hot collecting decade, so much so that a 70s original plastic bottle of Fairy dish washing-up liquid recently made £475 on an internet auction!

and aspiring officers of the day. The Duke of York resigned his position as commander of the British Army in Spain, where we were not doing well, and returned home to answer questions in the House. Cartoons appeared in the press (what’s new?) of the Duke of York hiding beneath Mrs Clarke’s skirts. Mrs Clarke was eventually placated by being given a fine property in Paris for life and the Duke of York was reinstated to his former position in 1811.

She died in 1852. Portraits and a marble bust of Mrs Clarke are in the National Portrait Gallery in London; if you view the portraits it is perhaps understandable why Prince Frederick had his soul charmed to easily!

So that’s the history – and to bring the story up to date, it was just a few weeks ago in a Wirral property I discovered this pottery jug decorated with a portrait of Mary Anne. Now – what would you pay for a Victorian pottery jug?

Maybe not a great deal, but in our auction the ‘Mary Clarke’ jug made just over £1,000.00 with premium and VAT. The inscription around her portrait read ‘My Dear little Angel, Charmer of my Soul; the late favourite lady of His Royal Highness the Duke of York’. Quite a tear-jerker, I think.

Ercol table and chairs made over £1,000

Ercolani designed furniture to be timeless in design. The wood, mainly elm and beech, was steamed to be softened to allow it to be bent and formed into graceful curves – for example, the top rails of the stick back settees and chairs. The woods were left in their natural colours for lightness. Dark-stained examples are found, but are not desirable to collectors.

While you can buy dark oak examples at a moderate price and strip and bleach out the stain, I have not seen it done successfully!

So don’t be tempted, despite its cheapness!

An original nest of Ercol ‘pebble tables’ can easily make now over £300 and last week at our auction, competition was keen for a dining table and six chairs which made over £1,000.

We have more examples in our next auction, as well as G Plan and others.

Merrow Associates low table £400–£600

Merrow as a brand is not well known to the general public. This firm was founded in 1965 by designer Richard Young and two engineers, Percy Wyatt and Peter Weeks, and they

Pier Head Buildings Liverpool by Norman Thelwell

Mary Clarke jug

An ordinary pottery jug was sold at our internet auction last month, but the story behind it, however, is far from ordinary as it commemorates the death of a lady 164 years ago… In 1803, Prince Frederick Duke of York, who was the favourite son of King George lll, began a two-year friendship with one Mary Anne Clarke. The friendship ended in 1805 and became somewhat acrimonious, to say the least. After the end of the relationship, to keep the friendship out of the public domain, Mrs Clarke received a pension to keep her at the level of lifestyle to which she had become accustomed… she was a very expensive lady.

However, in 1808 Mrs Clarke became quite alarmed to discover that the ‘Royal Pension’ was suddenly withdrawn. With the help of friends, in 1809 Mrs Clarke threatened to publish her memoirs to attempt to extort money from the government to keep her quiet. The cat was out of the bag! Mrs Clarke alleged that with the help of her royal friend that preferments (commissions) in the Army and other quarters had been arranged and she had received payment for these positions of increased status by the rich young men

Cottages at Barnston painted when Norman Thelwell was fourteen

Pictures are always a bit subjective but those with local associations are usually popular.

The name ‘Thelwell’ will in all probability immediately conjure up mental images of humorous cartoons of ponies and riding school escapades amongst many others. Norman Thelwell was brought up in Tranmere and was very much a Wirral person. His autobiography, Wrestling With a Pencil, published in 1986 describes pre-war Wirral very well. His watercolour [illustrated] in our June auction was purchased from a London Art Gallery in 1984.

It is included in his autobiography and he says he remembers being on firewatch during 1940–41 when he was a junior clerk in that area of the city. We are hoping it will remain in the city!

Another very high quality, albeit small, picture has been discovered in the suburbs of Liverpool. It was discovered by the vendor when a neighbour bequeathed the contents

The Lake 39

The Rehearsal by Gustave de Jonghe

Picture detail – delicate pianist’s hands

of her property to her. A good eye is required sometimes. This small oil painting is by a Belgian artist called Gustave de Jonghe (1829–1893). He worked mainly in Antwerp and his paintings are full of detail, as you can see from the delicate hands of the pianist.

His larger pictures can quite easily make over £30,000. This is a small example, 11 inches by 9 inches, but as the subject is extremely good, the auction results should please the vendor. It is up to worldwide internet bidders!

Our Wirral, Liverpool and Chester auctions continue to be held in our two large auction rooms in Stanhope Street in Liverpool where the parking is free and, fortunately, right outside our front door as people don’t want to be lugging heavy boxes too far – we find many of our clients seem to be, like me, ‘approaching’ middle age!

Unwanted jewellery and silver is doing well at auction at the moment and pieces that are out of fashion in the UK do find enthusiastic bidders from the many countries around the globe who bid live on the internet during our auctions. Collectors in Australia sit up all night waiting for their particular lot to come up at 3.30am in the morning. It is obviously a great hobby for insomniacs!

More than 70 per cent of our lots are packed and sent abroad following every auction; very time-consuming, but we do get high prices!

We have seen an upsurge in prices recently as the American market has started to pick up again, and good tea sets and pretty dinner services can sometimes do extremely well now and quite often end up in Italy.

Moorcroft pottery, especially large early pieces, will make surprisingly large amounts of money these days. Unusual pieces by known designers can also do very well and the fish-decorated bowl [illustrated] was designed

by Walter Slater for the Shelley factory in Stoke on Trent in about 1910. It is not wildly valuable but should make over £300 in today’s climate.

Some collectors are hoarders – they simply buy and store items – and this small portrait of Napoleon, with an old discoloured lot number still attached, passed through my hands nearly 30 years ago and has surfaced again with the original buyer hoping for a vast profit!

Quite often now they are pleasantly surprised!

We are always pleased when our old buyers come back.

There are plenty of auctioneers around who are forced to rely upon antique trade dealers for their supply of lots for auction. They are simply known in the business as ‘trade auctioneers’ and have not generally been in the business long enough to build a reliable reputation with the private sector in the community. There is generally a good reason why some firms survive for many decades and others do not. We and some others in the North West work very hard to get good results and over the last 40 years we have amassed a good list of buyers in London and worldwide who know that we only offer goods from private vendors across the region who have objects of quality that they want to dispose of.

I visit many clients in Wirral most weeks.

Should you wish me visit to discuss your items, even if you do not want to sell immediately, do please contact me on 0151 342 2321 or on 07836 209995, or through our Wirral, Liverpool and Chester auction rooms on 0151 709 5559.

Thank you for reading my articles and I look forward to visiting you in the near future...

Happy antique hunting to all.

40 The Lake

Dinosaurs in West Kirby!

Gavin Rymill tells readers about a summer exhibition 65 million years in the making

When I tell people that I’m sculpting a T. rex, I enjoy waiting for the point in the conversation where the penny drops. Yes, a full-sized T. rex. Yes, that’s right, they are huge – 44 feet long, in fact.

A deluge of questions inevitably follows, and the big question everyone asks is: ‘Why?’ Like most kids, I was fascinated by dinosaurs. In 1993, Jurassic Park made a big impact, not just because it was a great movie but because it brought new scientific views to a mass audience. Almost overnight, the old perception of dinosaurs as lumbering lizards was replaced by the notion of agile, bird-like predators.

After leaving school, I taught myself graphic design, 3D modelling and HTML. I researched many subjects, including dinosaurs, and built websites featuring artwork and diagrams. This allowed me to try out my skills and put material online which I hoped like-minded people would find useful. I spent a lot of time playing around with 3D software, making digital dinosaurs, spacecraft, cartoon characters, buildings, and whatever else I could think of. The websites resulted in employment with a web design company, but it was the illustrations within them which led to my big break.

I was contacted by the team responsible for designing Doctor Who DVDs. They were lacking certain photos for their covers and they hoped that 3D computer renders could fill in the gaps. I jumped at the chance to help, and they loved the flexibility of getting new monster images from any angle they wanted.

This opened the door to other opportunities and in 2013 I was approached by The Doctor Who Figurine Collection. I was commissioned to provide digital sculptures which could be 3D printed and mass-produced for their magazine. Over several years I have crafted everything from reptile-men to robots and, of course, Daleks galore. The more creatures I made on the computer, the more it made me want to carve something in real life…

Last year I enjoyed researching and presenting an illustrated local history talk for West Kirby Museum where I’ve been on the committee since 2012. This year I wanted to do something similar, but without facing my fear of public speaking.

During January, I began discussing ideas with my friend Elaine Hyder who is a qualified vertebrate palaeontologist. We had both been impressed by Heather Chapman’s local history displays, in which she presented artefacts, photos and a plethora of information. Could we do something similar with dinosaurs? Although it wasn’t a local subject, it was always a popular topic. It had lots of potential for interesting visuals, and West Kirby did have some palaeontological importance due to the prehistoric animal prints found on Hilbre Island.

Elaine had fossils she would be willing to lend and she had a colleague who had once made life-sized models of very large pterosaurs.

At the back of my mind I had the idea of sculpting something myself, but if I could borrow a ready-made, full-sized prehistoric monster it would make an awesome attraction! We investigated this possibility but, sadly, they had all fallen into disrepair and been thrown away. By this time I was hooked on the idea of having an impressive centrepiece.

I contacted a couple of acquaintances who had undertaken large modelling projects before. Due to the scale of the thing, one got cold feet quite quickly and withdrew himself from the running. Another very talented sculptor suggested a half-sized dinosaur, or perhaps two-thirds size. He checked the price of materials and he gave me a rough quote for his labour. A few days later, he realised he’d under-estimated the work involved and his cost needed to be doubled.

Time for another meeting in the pub with Elaine. She asked why I didn’t consider sculpting it myself. Lots of reasons. Time being one of them. I wanted to focus on researching and designing the displays. I didn’t really want to get bogged down with making things, let alone 44 feet of skin and muscle. It was just too daunting.

The Lake 41 “Why don’t you do it as a skeleton?” she asked, “then you’re taking it back to the science.”

She was dead right. Copying bones was relatively straightforward. I wouldn’t have to worry about all the difficulties of a fully fleshed-out creature and it would use significantly less material.

A skeleton seemed very sensible. Well, relatively sensible. We are talking about building life-sized dinosaurs… I decided to think on it.

There was an enormous amount of work involved and I had been keen to delegate as much of the exhibition as I could to ensure I didn’t end up in a mad panic doing everything myself. Maybe I needed to give up the idea of a huge centrepiece and just focus on the design work.

Then the decision was essentially made for me. I found an eBay auction for an immense amount of polystyrene which was suitable for sculpting. And no one was bidding!

I soon realised there were two reasons no-one was bidding. Firstly, it was an industrial amount of material. Hundreds and hundreds of cubic feet. Transportation and storage were big problems. The second reason no one was bidding was because it was ‘collection only’ – from Bristol.

To put the quantity into perspective, I had recently paid about £10 for a shoebox worth of sculpting foam. This eBay auction was at least a T. rex worth of foam. If I bought it, that was pretty much a commitment to carve this thing myself.

The minutes on the auction ticked by. I decided to go for it. I put a fairly high bid in, knowing that even with shipping (I had no idea how I was going to ship it) it would be a decent saving. I won the auction for a ridiculously low figure. It was clearly an omen. I now had the raw material for making a T. rex. How hard could it be?

A few days later, reality started to dawn when the van turned up.

“I couldn’t fit it all in,” explained the driver I’d hired. “This is about three-quarters.” It was not a small van either. It took three of us to move one block of polystyrene and there were five blocks. This suddenly seemed like a crazy idea. Another few days later and a second van arrived with the remainder. It filled the yard of my extremely tolerant and supportive parents. I sketched out my plans on the blocks and set to work on a nine-foot long slab with a six-inch hot-knife.

The hot-knife was utterly inadequate. Next, I tried a jig-saw. This too was totally insufficient. I had to think bigger. The solution: my brother-in-law’s chainsaw.

Throughout March I chopped the largest pieces in rough form. The chunks for the head and pelvis were each six feet long. The mess was extraordinary. My poor parents’ garden looked like the Arctic tundra. The next challenge was how to fit the whole thing together.

Oxton Ironworks in Hoylake accepted the task and, to their credit, spoke those immortal words: “Nothing is impossible.” That’s what I like to hear.

As I write this, there are just over seven weeks to go, and my to-do list is quite alarmingly long. The frame needs mounting into the head.

The armature needs designing and making for the body and connecting to the skull. I still need to sculpt much of the spine including the tail.

There are a lot of fiddly details in the ribs and other small bones.

And the T. rex is just one aspect of the project. Banners need designing, displays need constructing, and labels need researching.

I’ve been scouring the globe to find interesting fossils – not only rare items to display, but a collection of genuine dinosaur teeth which will be available to purchase.

Two superb artists are producing beautiful unique prints and posters.

There are activities and games planned and a few surprises on the cards too, thanks to the generous people at Big Heritage and the Grosvenor Museum.

With the kind cooperation of Martin Harrison, the exhibition will open at St Bridget’s Centre, West Kirby, on Friday August 19th and remain for the weekend of the 20th and 21st. Entry is £2 for children, £5 for adults and it’s open from 10am to 4pm.

Search online for ‘Dinosaurs in West Kirby’ or visit: www.bit.do/dinowk

Shorelines

By Stephen G Baker

Being frightened is a terrible thing. Uncertainty about what is happening can have a dramatic effect on children. I remember my son taking ill and Carole (my wife) and I discussing what was happening in hushed tones. What we were unaware of was the fear that we were instilling in our young daughter’s mind.

She was only eight but she told us in no uncertain terms not to do that to her again. Despite the fact that it was probably bad news we were talking about she wanted to know. She needed us to be upfront with her so that she knew what was happening.

In the last couple of weeks many hearts have been filled with fear. The fear of the unknown, the uncertainly of what could happen! Before the ‘Brexit’ vote a lot of things were said. Some people thought it was scaremongering. Others thought we should know the truth about the potential consequences of voting one way or the other. Now that the vote has taken place we all wonder what the ultimate consequences will be. What will be the long-term effect on our nation, our economy, our pensions, our quality of life? We want to know, but life is uncertain and it’s hard to tell.

There are some things in life that we can be certain about! As a Christian I believe what God says in His word, the Bible. The Bible has predicted many things, including the rise and fall of nations and empires. There is empirical evidence to demonstrate that the Bible is trustworthy. Christians believe that ‘when all the facts are known, the scriptures in their original autographs and properly interpreted will be shown to be wholly true in everything they affirm’.

So I trust the Holy Scriptures implicitly! It is the only unchangeable source of truth that I have discovered! Psalm 118.8,9 states that ‘it is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans’, and ‘it is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes’, (i.e. rulers). In the turbulent periods of life where does your stability from?

An old familiar hymn asks a question and provides an answer to a vital issue:

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life, When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?

When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain, Will your anchor drift or firm remain?

We have an anchor that keeps the soul Stedfast and sure while the billows roll, Fastened to the Rock which cannot move, Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.

In closing I recommend to you Jesus as the anchor of your soul. Hebrews 6:19 states about the Lord Jesus ‘which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast’.

May you know God’s salvation and peace in your soul in troubled times.

www.findingthemissingpeace.blogspot.co.uk www.seekthetruth.org.uk

42 The Lake Also this July: Tarzan Ghostbusters The Purge: Election Year Ice Age: Collision Course

AUGUST gets in over their heads when they land a 300 million dollar deal to arm the Afghan military – a deal that puts them in business with some very shady people, not the least of which turns out to be the US Government.

Welcome to The Lake magazine’s film column.

Each issue will provide a rundown of what’s on over the next few weeks, including blockbusters, independent films and art screenings that are available for you to check out in your local cinema.

JULY Star Trek: Beyond Star Trek: Beyond sees the crew of the Enterprise having left Earth, and pushing ever further in their mission to explore uncharted space.

But now the frontier’s pushing back! They’re stranded on an alien planet. The Enterprise has been destroyed and the crew have been taken prisoner. Confronted by a ruthless new enemy with a deep hatred for the Federation, Kirk needs to rescue his friends and find a way to escape.

Pete’s Dragon For years, old woodcarver Mr Meacham (Robert Redford) has delighted local children with his tales of the fierce dragon that resides deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. To his daughter, Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard), who works as a forest ranger, these stories are little more than tall tales…until she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley). Pete is a mysterious 10-year-old with no family and no home who claims to live in the woods with a giant green dragon named Elliott.

And from Pete’s descriptions, Elliott seems remarkably similar to the dragon from Mr Meacham’s stories. With the help of Natalie (Oona Laurence), an 11-year-old girl whose father Jack (Wes Bentley) owns the local lumber mill, Grace sets out to determine where Pete came from, where he belongs, and the truth about this dragon.

Also this August: Suicide Squad Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates Bad Moms Ben Hur

During July and August The Light Cinema New Brighton is hosting a wealth of live cinema, including theatre, opera, and ballet.

Richard III – July 21st The Almeida Theatre makes its live screening debut with an explosive new adaptation of Richard III, directed by Almeida Artistic Director Rupert Goold with Ralph Fiennes as Shakespeare’s most notorious villain and Vanessa Redgrave as Queen Margaret. War-torn England is reeling after years of bitter conflict. King Edward is ailing, and as political unrest begins to stir once more, Edward’s brother Richard – vicious in war, despised in peacetime – awaits the opportunity to seize his brother’s crown.

Andre Rieu’s 2016 Maastricht Concert July 23rd

Jason Bourne Years ago, Jason Bourne dismantled the Treadstone programme and brought those in charge to justice. Then he disappeared. Now, he’s resurfaced on the global stage – but no one knows why.

He remembers everything about his past, but that doesn’t mean he knows anything about the future. The world is at war, and it needs the perfect weapon. It’s time for Bourne to come back. Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass return to the Bourne franchise after nearly ten years away.

Finding Dory Everyone’s favourite forgetful blue tang is back at last for Finding Dory, which sees her go off on a new adventure to search for the family she forgot about. Waking up one morning, Dory sees a picture in her head – and comes to a shocking realisation. She remembered something! It seems impossible, but it’s true, and now she wants answers about her past. Who are her parents?

Where did she come from? And how did she learn to speak Whale?

Director Andrew Stanton and Ellen DeGeneres return for Finding Dory: an unforgettable adventure… that she probably won’t remember.

David Brent: Life on the Road If there’s one big screen revival of a TV show to get excited about this year, it’s the return of Ricky Gervais as The Office bossman David Brent.

The awkward former manager of the Wernham Hogg Paper Company isn’t slinging paper anymore. Instead, he’s following his dreams by trying to become a famous singer songwriter. But in the first David Brent: Life on the Road teaser trailer, it’s clear that he hasn’t quite escaped life in an office just yet, and he’s still got the gift of making people supremely uncomfortable.

War Dogs From director Todd Phillips (The Hangover) comes War Dogs, a comedic drama based on true events, starring Oscar nominee Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street and Moneyball) and Miles Teller (Whiplash, the Divergent trilogy). War Dogs follows two friends in their early 20s (Hill and Teller) living in Miami Beach during the Iraq War who exploit a little-known government initiative that allows small businesses to bid on US Military contracts. Starting small, they begin raking in big money and are living the high life. But the pair

Known to millions as ‘The King of Waltz’, André Rieu is one of the world’s most popular music artists. His legendary annual Maastricht concert is the most eagerly anticipated cinema event of the year, last year setting new box office records in several countries. Set against the stunning medieval backdrop of the town square in André’s Dutch hometown, the spectacular Maastricht concert features the maestro in his element, along with his world-famous 60-piece Johann Strauss Orchestra, sopranos, tenors and very special guests. André promises – and delivers – an unforgettable musical experience full of humour, fun and emotion for all ages.

Beatrice et Benedict: Glyndebourne Opera Live – August 9th Closing the Glyndebourne 2016 cinema season is a rarely performed sparkling gem. Inspired

by Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, Béatrice et Bénédict is an impassioned love letter to the Bard. It makes a perfect addition to 2016’s Shakespeare400 celebrations, marking 400 years since the playwright’s death. This is the first-ever fully staged version of the opera at Glyndebourne, as it has only previously been performed as a concert piece.

Craig Barton is the co-director of Pilot Light TV Festival and works within film exhibition at multiplexes and film festivals, and is a former lecturer of film and creative media.

Release dates are subject to change and are provided by Launching Films and The Light Cinema.