Lake sept

Issue 16 • September/October 2015

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

Rock & Roll Nights • Peregrinations from Afar • Birkenhead Park • West Kirby Sailing Club

Welcome to the sixteenth 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 Cover image: Sand Hills by Royal Liverpool Golf Course, looking towards Red Rocks by Eric Wells Photographs and original material are submitted at the sender’s risk and must be accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope if you wish them to be returned. The publishers will not accept responsibility for loss or damage.

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

CONTENTS 04 06 10 11 12 14 16 18 20

West Kirby shops in times gone by Hoylake Community Cinema Rock & Roll Nights Hoylake Christmas Lights Peregrinations from Afar West Kirby Scout Group book Let’s Talk About Sport Birkenhead Park West Kirby Sailing Club

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

Contacts: Editor Jonathan Bion 07796 945745 jon@lakemagazine.co.uk Sales Director Alan Strange 07788 510868 alan@lakemagazine.co.uk Accounts accounts@lakemagazine.co.uk Delivered free to 12,500 homes and businesses in West Kirby, Hoylake, Meols and Caldy For distribution queries please call 0151 644 9475

22 War Horse Story 28 Hoylake Chamber Concert Society 30 All Write Now 32 What’s on the Big Screen?

33 (Sun) Spot the difference 34 UCAS Personal Statement 35 Shorelines 36 All Things Auctioneering 38 Fitness Queen

04 The Lake

West Kirby shops in times gone by A project by West Kirby Museum Research Group

By Heather Chapman The West Kirby Museum Research Group is undertaking the mammoth task of researching the history of all the shops in West Kirby. The first part of our project is Banks Road shops. We began by collecting advertisements, images, history and family histories of the shopkeepers and shops in Banks Road. To date we have almost 2,000 images, thanks to Sue Jackson and Val Frost who started the project.

We have divided the shops in Banks Road into blocks and each building in each block has its own unique reference code. Two more members of the team, Rose Player and Margaret Ludovici, are compiling a database and a timeline for every shop.

Another two members, Heather Cooksley and Angela Cross, are writing the narratives to produce informative booklets outlining the history of each shop. These will be on display at West Kirby Museum events, kept in the Museum Archives for reference, and will be passed on to future generations.

Banks Road – in times gone by Banks Road was once a narrow sandy lane between the fields and sandhills. The road was prone to flooding from the sea before the Promenade and Marine Lake opened in 1899 giving an extra sea defence wall.

The railway line came to West Kirby in 1878, resulting in a frenzy of building and the population increased dramatically.

Houses and shops sprang up in the vicinity of West Kirby Railway Station, now the new centre, and the circle widened to Banks Road. The new population of West Kirby needed schools, churches, leisure activities and shops.

The many shops in Banks Road vary greatly in their architecture. There are three-storey, two-storey and single-storey buildings in a range of different styles. Some shops have residential accommodation above them, while others are used as storerooms.

Some shops were built in the front gardens of houses.

The building plans reveal that sometimes shops were built at different times to other shops in the same block. An example of this is the block of shops between Church Road and Eaton Road: the first shop to be built was on the corner of Eaton Road. Then Jubilee Buildings were built in 1897, at the Eaton Road end of the block. Tower Buildings, at the Church Road end of the block, were built in 1903.

In 1871 there were only a few houses in Banks Road. ‘Dee Cottage’ stood on the corner of Banks Road and Dee Lane. ‘Green Lane Cottage’ stood on the corner of Church Road and Banks Road. The house called ‘Seabank’ was situated next to the plot where Coronation Gardens is today.

In 1873 there was a newspaper article in the Liverpool Mercury complaining about the very poor condition of Banks Road.

The road had been formed over a hundred years previously. Residents asked for the sand on the road to be levelled and covered with loose rock or cinders.

There have been many alterations to the buildings over the years. We are fortunate that many older shops retain their original attractive frontage with a transom window above the door. Most blocks of shops have an alleyway running behind them, parallel to Banks Road. This was used for services and some shops even had a stable behind them. Nowadays the alleyway is used for bins, parking and access to residential accommodation above the shops. The early blocks of shops had different names. The block of shops between Eaton Road and South Road was called Avondale Buildings and often the individual shop had its own title. The present day Slinky’s Cafe and Wine Bar at 84 Banks Road was initially called London House.

In 1875 West Kirby was centred around the Old Village, close to the church and school.

There were several farms, inns and shops in the Old Village.

Numbering was introduced in the early 1900s with no forward-thinking about future shops. When the shop numbers were altered in 1911 it caused much confusion.

The first block of shops to be built at the south end of Banks Road was the block of four shops between Albert Road and Coronation Gardens. This block was originally numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4 Garfield Terrace.

We do not know the exact date, but it is evident at the 1891 census. Our team are currently working on this block and have made some interesting discoveries.

Banks Road, West Kirby, is famous for some well-known people. The Beatles played at the Thistle Cafe, 34 Banks Road, in the early 1960s and a plaque is displayed on the side of the building. Joe Mercer, the famous Arsenal, Everton and England footballer, had a grocery store in Banks Road. Baron Selwyn Lloyd was born at 72 Banks Road.

Our ‘pioneer’ block is the block of shops between Groveside and Victoria Drive. We have done extensive research on this block and have completed the narratives (although, just like family history, this is never final). We will continue with some snippets of our research in the next issue.

We would like to thank everyone for sharing their memories, information and photographs of West Kirby shops, which has helped the project enormously. Anybody with further information about any West Kirby shops, please contact Sue Jackson on 625 2298, or Val Frost on 678 8460.

06 The Lake

It’s almost 20 years since there was a cinema in Hoylake: The Winter Gardens and Kingsway are long gone. However, from 2010 there has been a community cinema in Hoylake showing classic and independent films on the last Friday of each month. The films are screened in the Parade Community Centre, Hoyle Road. The main hall is transformed for each film night and boasts a 12ft screen, digital projector and cinema sound.

The cinema is run entirely by volunteers and any profits are used to help fund other community activities – for example, a children’s Halloween Party and a Christmas Party, both held in the Community Centre.

The idea for a cinema in Hoylake came from Mark Howard, a member of the volunteer community group Hoylake Village Life. The first film, back in 2010, was Nowhere Boy, which tells the story of John Lennon’s early years. Even though there was copious publicity surrounding the cinema, it was a nervous night while we waited to see if anyone would come. In the event, more than 80 people did, and it was a huge relief to hear the audience spontaneously applaud at the end of the film. As word of the cinema spread, audience numbers have grown and many of the films have been complete sell-outs, with people being turned away at the door (there is a seating capacity of 120). To make the evening even more of a social event, there is a licensed bar selling home-made snacks, and a light-hearted quiz on the film set by Julian Priest.

The cinema has three Patrons: James Bond star Daniel Craig, film director Alex Cox, and actor Dai Bradley. Both Alex and Dai have visited the cinema to hold Q&A sessions after the films. Alex Cox (director of Repo Man, among others) is also a spaghetti western fan and came to a screening of For a Few Dollars More. A huge variety of questions were thrown in his direction by an absorbed audience. Dai Bradley played Billy Casper in the film Kes, and the Q&A after this film centred almost entirely on how he coped with handling the kestrels.

The new (fifth) season starts on 30 October with the screening of Of Time and the City.

The film is a collage documentary of images and sounds, directed by Terence Davies, recalling growing up in Liverpool in the 1950s and 1960s. The Guardian described it as “a British masterpiece, a brilliant assemblage of images that illuminate our past. Not only does it tug the heartstrings, but it’s also savagely funny.” Mark Kermode said it was “the best film of 2008”. Praise indeed! It is hoped that director Terence Davies will attend the screening and hold a Q&A session after the event. Should he be unable to attend, the producers of the film, Solon Papadopoulos and Roy Boulter, will definitely be there to answer questions.

There are many brilliant films coming up in the new season, including It’s a Wonderful Life at Christmas, Annie Hall, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Little Moth (including a live Q&A via Skype with director Tao Peng), The Passion of Joan of Arc (this 1920s silent film will be accompanied by live piano music), The Graduate, Whisky Galore!, and Robot & Frank.

The screening licence for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is held by the Saul Zaentz Company in Berkeley, California.

When we asked for permission to screen the film the reply came from Paul Zaentz, nephew of the founder of the company, and producer of The English Patient, no less. Yes, we could have permission: the fee would be £450! The usual screening licence

costs about £100, so this was something of a shock. We asked for confirmation and explained we were just a community cinema run by volunteers. Paul’s response was amazing. He agreed to waive the fee in return for us donating £120 to a local food bank. Not only that, but, under the same agreement, he said we could also show two other films for which they hold the screening licence: Amadeus and The Unbearable Lightness of Being. It was agreed that St Luke’s food bank in Hoylake would be the beneficiary. The good community work continues…

Tickets for all films cost £5 and are available from Seven The Row (formerly Urbane) in Hoylake; Staacks in Banks Road, West Kirby; from The Parade Community Centre; on the door on the night; or online at www.hoylakecommunitycinema.co.uk.

Doors open at 6.30pm and the film starts at 7.30pm.

Solar Update – the end of UK Solar losses there would be, let alone the cost to the country (the Solar Trade Association puts the job losses at 34,000).

In trying to justify cutting support for Solar, the paper refers to the government’s wish to keep energy costs down. The same document, however, estimates that the cost of keeping the scheme running would amount to less than 1% on the average energy bill (ie, less than £5 per year for every energy bill payer). No reference is made to how much it will cost taxpayers to fund the job losses, or to the amounts that the country is paying to overseas developers of new nuclear power stations.

In the last edition of The Lake our local Solar installer, Tony Edwards from Bromborough-based firm, Natural Energy Sources, reported on the ongoing success of Solar, but added a note of caution as the government appeared to be wavering in their support for the technology.

Unfortunately, this latter point has proven to be well founded, as a ‘consultation’ paper was released at the end of August which proposes to cut Solar subsidies for installations after 31 December by an average of 87%. The paper acknowledges that this would virtually bring to an end all new Solar deployment in the UK, and that an additional 1.2 ‘mega tonnes’ of CO2 per year will be released into atmosphere as more fossil fuels are burned to replace the energy that would otherwise have been created by the new Solar systems.

The paper also acknowledges that there will be significant job losses as the sector effectively has to close down, but the consultants who put the paper together for the government didn’t work out how many

Unsurprisingly, the proposals have been met with disbelief, as Tony explains: “The goal of the Solar industry has always been to drive costs down to a level where it is comparable with fossil fuel generated energy. The Solar Trade Association even put together a paper earlier this year to show how this could be achieved with a phase out of subsidies by 2020. This has been totally ignored however, and it comes as no surprise that the end of Solar is being timed just as the government have released new rules which will transfer responsibility for approval of Fracking applications from local councils to central ministers. It is hugely disappointing that the impact on CO2 emissions has been quantified, and accepted as a “reasonable price to pay”.

The wording of the consultation suggests that this is a done deal, however, I would ask everyone to sign the petition against the proposals, which can be found at: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/106791 Everyone who cares about climate change should also contact their MP and ask what is going on.

08 The Lake

M I L A N T H E

R E S T A U R A N T

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

TUESDAY TO SATURDAY – 2 COURSES FROM £14.50 SUNDAY – 2 COURSES £14.95 FRIDAY & SATURDAY AFTER 7PM – 2 COURSES FROM £18.50

0151 625 6767 www.milantherestaurant.co.uk Milan the Restaurant - 95 Banks Road, West Kirby, Wirral CH48 0RB

Love Food - Love Milan!

The Lake 09

Getting divorced – do I need to sell the business?

Tom Fisher, Partner and a Collaborative Lawyer based at Lees Solicitors’ West Kirby office outlines the options that may be available if you find yourself facing this problem.

How can one spouse reach a settlement with the other when the funds are tied up in a business? This situation may mean that a clean break is more difficult to achieve in certain cases. In the past, the courts tended to be reluctant to break up a business in order to give the other spouse their share; however, this attitude is changing.

If the business does need to be sold, it is important to consider how and when, and to give the spouse every opportunity to raise funds to buy out the other person’s share, if at all possible, as an alternative.

“You treat me like a person, and not a thing. I can speak to any of you like a friend and you will be always be there for me, to sit and speak to.”

Lees’ Family Client

At Lees Solicitors we understand that a breakdown of a relationship is upsetting and can be one of the most difficult times in your life. We will provide you with expert, professional and sensitive legal advice, helping you deal with divorce, financial matters and any questions you may have as a parent.

Tom Fisher

Despite the desirability of achieving a clean break, there will be some cases, especially those involving private companies, where the commercial reality is that a fairer result would be achieved by not selling the business, as it is not always practical or desirable to value and sell the business and then divide the proceeds.

What Lees Solicitors can do for you…

For example, a husband was ordered by the court to pay an initial lump sum instalment of £30,000, followed by 240 further monthly instalments of the amount needed to repay the wife’s current mortgage. In this case, the lump sum order was secured by giving the wife a first charge over the husband’s shares in the company. The judge explained that the reason these payments were being made by way of lump sum rather than maintenance was that it was to endure beyond remarriage. This type of approach though is very unusual.

• Heswall office open on Saturday (book for an appointment)

If you would like to talk to one of our specialist family law advisors, please call us free on 0800 387 927 (now also free to call from mobiles) or email family@lees.co.uk or visit our website www.lees.co.uk/family

• Fixed fee options available • Out of hours appointments from 5–7pm on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

• Three local offices to choose from: West Kirby 0151 625 9364 Heswall 0151 342 6273 Birkenhead 0151 647 9381 • Collaborative Lawyers If you are in need of family law advice, contact our team to book an appointment or to chat through your options. Call us free from either a mobile or landline on 0800 387 927.

10 The Lake

Rock & Roll Nights Local Talent

By Robert Foster This summer may not have brought the searing heat everyone craved, but one thing that’s remained red hot throughout is the diverse local music scene. While Hoylake’s Festival of Firsts was a huge success, shining the spotlight on a host of experimental and world music acts, what’s really impressed me has been the performances of our local bands, with Wirral venues giving a host of rising stars and seasoned rockers the opportunity to riff to their heart’s content.

Merseyside’s musical pedigree has never been in doubt. Fantastic bands such as Gerry and the Pacemakers, The La’s, Echo and the Bunnymen, and a group called the Beatles, placed Liverpool firmly on the musical map.

However, our larger, louder neighbour hasn’t had all the success, as proven in 2002 when Hoylake band The Coral exploded onto the scene, fast gaining nationwide recognition that was justly rewarded with a nomination for the iconic Mercury Music Prize. More recently, Meols’ very own Miles Kane has proven himself to be one of the best singer-songwriters in the country and continues to draw critical acclaim from music journalists everywhere.

But despite their creativity and platinum selling albums, the big shots don’t float my boat. Like many others, I prefer the intimate reality that the underdogs bring – those who have the talent, but haven’t had the breaks. While music snobs may scoff, cover bands are thriving thanks to their energy, dedication and the quality music they bring.

The Return

Last Tuesday I checked out my favourite local band: The Return. For the uninitiated, these Wro regulars are pure British rockers who capture the essence of everything that has made the UK music scene the envy of the Western world. They don’t pretend to be something they’re not; they’re a time-served, guitar-led covers band who are driven by a love of music.

The Return’s passion is clear from the outset. They have musical experience in abundance, and you can tell they’ve been playing together since their teens. Jed’s gravelly vocals and Barry’s Bolan-esque locks scream rock and roll – they’re West Kirby’s answer to Jagger and Richards.

As one of those people whose musical dreams were dashed by a distinct lack of talent, I couldn’t help but be envious of the reception they received when they took to the stage. The crowd loves them. Their smooth electro-acoustic rhythms and complementary vocals grabbed the attention of the whole room and held it throughout.

Before I knew it, everyone was tapping their toes and humming along – a sure sign they were going down a storm.

The Return keep it simple, effortlessly working their way through a set that is packed full of rock and indie gems from the last 40 years. What makes them so appealing is that they don’t just reel off the staple cover band classics that we’ve heard a thousand times before, their love of music shows in the balanced soundtrack they provide.

While quality performers like The Return are guaranteed to put bums on seats wherever they go, those looking for something a little more edgy need to check out Sam Wise. He may look like a lumberjack, but he combines funky acoustic guitar with catchy electronic wizardry to create a unique sound that would make John Peel proud.

Often found wowing the crowds in Hoylake’s Vanilla Lounge, Sam is fast becoming the hottest property on the local music scene.

His vocals make your ears prick up and listen, even if you’re not a music lover. I first stumbled across him by chance and was impressed from the outset. He has an undeniable stage presence and I struggle to see how he has not struck gold with a record deal. Mr Cowell, if you’re reading…

Whilst some young musicians take the easy option and play it safe, Sam Wise pushes boundaries with an individual style that appeals to both the Facebook generation and mature music fans alike. He’s not afraid to try things that others wouldn’t dare, and if you can’t check him out in person, have a peek on YouTube for a flavour of what he can do.

Sam Wise

In today’s world of conveyor belt pop, local bands are more important than ever.

They keep the flag flying, inspiring others to write, sing and perform, which can only be good for the future of real music. So whether Mod, Rocker, New Romantic or Punk, keep on supporting our local bands and don’t hold back on the applause when they take a bow at the end of the night.

The Lake 11

Hoylake Christmas Lights Would you like Hoylake to be lit up this Christmas?

Would you like to see more lights and decorations?

Would you like Hoylake to look and feel more festive?

If you have answered yes to any of those questions, we would love to have your support to make this happen for the Hoylake community this year.

For the past few years a small band of people have fundraised and provided the Christmas lights for Hoylake. The Council do not pay for or install any of them and this year they’d like to charge Hoylake for the electricity.

I think we all agree that West Kirby looked fantastic last Christmas as did our wonderful tree by the roundabout at the end of Meols Drive. Let’s get Hoylake looking as good this year and for years to come. We already have the funds and permission for not one but two trees at either end of Hoylake but we need to replace the lights that go across Market Street and increase the number of lights we have. We have people in place to put the lights up and take them down.

This all costs money and this year we have a fundraising target of £10,000. We aim to raise money through collections, events including a Cheese and Wine tasting evening, party at The Parade with live music, bar and tasty home-cooked food and Bar Humbug with live music at the Holiday Inn. If you would like to get involved, help out, donate some money, perhaps even sponsor a set of lights or donate a raffle prize for the events, please contact either Paul on 07583 037270 or Sarah on 07715 390210.

Let’s get Hoylake extra festive this year.

The Wirral Bazaar gets bigger and better and raises £250k for North West Cancer Research.

After 25 years, the event has become a feature in so many people’s calendars as it marks the beginning of thinking about Christmas.

With more stalls than ever this year and in the wonderful marquee at Thornton Manor, this is an event not to miss. It is a great start to Christmas shopping with a huge selection of stalls selling things that are not available on the high street. This year sees an increase in food stalls, with cheeses, olive oils, cakes, meats, relishes, beer, liqueurs and turkeys available to order for Christmas. These stalls sit alongside an array of stalls selling household gifts, clothes and accessories, jewellery, books, toys, stationery, flowers, Christmas decorations, Christmas cards and many more – all under one roof. Make a day of it as there will be coffee, tea, cakes and sandwiches available as well as over 55 stalls.

This long-standing tradition on the Wirral has raised £250k over the last 25 years. All the proceeds go to North West Cancer Research, the only locally based cancer research charity. This is the biggest and best two-day shopping opportunity on The Wirral with free parking and at the same time supporting the charity. North West Cancer Research, based in Liverpool, funds high-quality, innovative research leading to a better understanding of cancer.

Wirral Bazaar 2015 Tuesday 3 November 3.00 – 8.30pm Wednesday 4 November 9.30 – 3pm www.wirralbazaar.com

12 The Lake

Peregrinations from Afar display. Yellow and white seemed to predominate, and perhaps white was the greater favourite, I am told that it is really marvellous at what low prices white frocks can be bought ready-made. White for ladies’ and children’s frocks is always in favour, because they are by far the most economical for summer wear, as all cotton frocks require constant laundrying [sic], and also there is not the danger of fading as is experienced with colours and more dressy material.”

The third in a series of short articles by Rastus on West Kirby, looks at Newspaper Jottings from the past.

West Kirby Marine Lake – The joys of The Promenade A jotting just before the completion of the West Kirby Marine Lake and promenade may surprise many readers…

I guess that these local councillors, of the time, were also local residents… read on current officers!

“A propos? [progress] of the new marine lake, the latest is that the work is to be completed by the end of August, and that early in September the first West Kirby Regatta is to be held. Rejoice O ye West Kirbyites at such rapid progress in the completion of what will be of great attraction to the ancient township. Speculation is already general as the financial success of the undertaking, and it is quite in the wind that the profits are to be devoted to the reduction of the rates.”

The proposal for a pier and the joining of the two promenades, Hoylake and West Kirby, is still a pipe dream but the implications for the time were enormous, including a market place and electric lighting: “But when we see the proposed pier an accomplished fact, as well as the junction of the two promenades, a good market may perhaps be not far off ... By-the by, the shops in The Crescent take the place of a market place, which is much wanted in West Kirby. A good weekly market would be a boon to this north end of Wirral, for you cannot say anything for the Hoylake imitation… Before then, however the electric light will be shining in all its brilliancy and lighting the streets and sand hills, notwithstanding the tempting offer of the Gas Company, who have just reduced the price of gas by the large sum of 2d per 100 cubic feet. Let it be known the Gas Company are alarmed!”

Facilities are needed on the promenade – and of course they need upkeep, maintenance and regular patrolling for vandalism… some things never seem to change.

“And from gas let us drop to other favours promised, though in the district in the distant future. The shelters and seats for the promenade may be a boon to the weary, the tired, and the aged but when they are here let us hope that the Urban District Council will arrange laws for their decent occupation &c. The few seats that are on the promenade are so frequently occupied by the strong and able-bodied youth, who make, to say the least of it, objectionable conversation to the annoyance of passers-by.”

But a big concern was visitors to the new promenade – especially on Sundays: “One thing West Kirby still has – it retains its Sundays. It has not yet begun to entertain thousands of excursionists on Sundays, like Rhyl and other places, and let us hope that so far at least as West Kirby is concerned, the excursionists will come on week-days only. Sunday last was a charming day – a beautiful and bright sunny June day, with just enough wind to ripple the water and cool the air, which otherwise might have been oppressive.”

Meanwhile a Sunday afternoon summer’s day constitutional on the promenade: a fashion parade, cheap, economical summer wear – but what about the boys?

“There was a charming variety of colour on The Promenade in the pretty frocks and parasols and sunshades of the many ladies enjoying the walk. The dresses were of too varied a character for any description of them in brief jotting of this kind to do them justice, but suffice it to say there was a large display of the present fashionable tunic or overskirt, also some tunics of handsome lace over silk, making handsome costumes, which the beautiful weather encouraged their owners to

The “promenaders”, sea-airs, lodging, etiquette, epicurean delights and new homes: “And the promenaders tonight are numerous and varied – some beaming with health, while others, to whom the heart goes out, seem to be, alas!, sick and weary, but the scene presents the same aspiring picture to all. I suppose that all seaside resorts have their sick visitors, and West Kirby is no exception. Indeed I should say, from appearances, that there are many visitors here seeking health in the light of the sea-air, but I also hear that there is very great need of a well-managed cookery class, where many of the so-called lodging-house keepers, also those who aspire to this most important position, might learn a bit of decent cookery. There is a great need of cookery reform, especially at the seaside, where many of the visitors are recovering from a winter illness, O ye housekeepers, do send the potatoes to the table on the one day in the week at least when the husband is over, with a little more salt in them and better boiled, and don’t have the beef or mutton under-done, because you are trying to save your coal and believe it won’t matter, as your v isitors will be leaving next week! Ye cooks, do have the dinners better cooked, so that the food may benefit the weakly patient or weary worker! Ye West Kirbyites look to this, for your credit is at stake in this matter, and a bit of good cooking and homely comfort may bring you shoals of visitors, and in such shoals that even your worthy townsman Mr W Christian, may find it well nigh an impossibility to provide homes!”

And the lingering winter continues: “The winter lingers here as elsewhere as if loth to go, and the good place this season has hardly kept its name, for there have been rains and snows, frost and ice, fogs and mists, but if anything these features of the elements have been perhaps lighter or much less severe here than in many parts. But the wintry weather has caused

The Lake 13

the Promenade to be deserted, the winds have sent many tons of sand into the lake, and the gentle inclement conditions of the atmosphere have kept invalids indoors, and caused a more sombre aspect than has been felt here for some time. Speaking of the lake, it is greatly appreciated, but its usefulness will be much lessened if the promised boathouse is not to be erected.”

The location of the westerly facing West Kirby Marine Lake and Promenade, nestling in the mouth of the once mighty River Dee estuary with a backdrop of the Welsh Hills and sometimes distant mountains is magnificent. No two days are ever the same, tide in – tide out, it is in fact a moving, ever-changing picture. No wonder people have always and still travel from all over the Wirral and afar (as well as locals) just to sit on a promenade bench and relax and imbibe the beautiful vista. And if you happen to be lucky – and most evenings you are lucky – you will be stunned by the fabulous sunsets, as the sun goes to sleep beyond Hilbre Island.

This world-renowned spectacle has never changed and can never be taken away or taxed. It is indeed a Gift from our Maker. It is sobering to think that our forefathers enjoyed this evening show just as much as we do today. Of course, today we can capture it in colour where as they had to resort to early black and white photographs and/or paintings.

“The glorious day, magnificently robed With crimson garments of resplendent light, In calm sublimity serenely dies

We stand on the promenade watching the incoming tide, and turn and view with mingled thoughts.

The splendour of the setting sun As he gently sinks to rest, and slowly dies Like a grand conqueror whose course is run.

The white-robed clouds his only witnesses, Who bend like angels by his side, and dip Their spotless garments in his purple wounds, To stay the life-blood brightly ebbing forth, Till their pure virgin robes absorb the tide, And streak the awe-inspired and voiceless earth

I wonder if you have ever experienced the feeling of a tranquil West Kirby – I know I have (though Middle Eye and Little Eye seem to have been forgotten): “A West Kirby calm must be seen and felt, to be believed. The silver tide, the long waste of waters as we stretch our eyes seaward, the almost hidden distant mountains, which with the solitary island of Hilbre and the Grange and Caldy Hills to the rear of the town, contribute to make up a picture of such sublimity, love and wonder, that our thoughts are led – To Him our Maker, who is all Love, all Peace, all Truth. all Light, all Loveliness.”

With roseate rays of beautifying light From that bright orb which gladden’d it with smiles.”

Next Peregrination: At the same time.

14 The Lake

First West Kirby Scout Group is to publish a book on its history ready for Christmas 2015 and needs help from the people of West Kirby and beyond.

Salisbury House is able to offer the following types of care: • Residential care

At Salisbury House we pride ourselves on being different to other care homes, for all of the right reasons...

• Dementia care

3 Family run and managed by owners

• Short Term placements

3 Beautifully restored Victorian building

• Long term placements • Rehabilitation & convalescent care • Respite & carer holiday care – this can be flexible to suit the residents and carers needs • Flexible Day Care – available from 7am to 8pm everyday including weekends - collection and drop off service available. Day care includes all meals and refreshments.

3 Qualified and experienced staff 3 Low staff turnover 3 Fully compliant with CQC regulations 3 Full & varied activities programme 3 Weekly minibus outings

(weather permitting)

3 Dementia and Dignity Champions

83-85 Egerton Park, Rock Ferry, Wirral CH42 4RD For further information contact us on 0151 645 6815 or email – enquiries@thesalisburygroup.co.uk

www.salisburyhousewirral.co.uk

As well as going through all the facts and information from the Group and District records, we are also asking for stories and photographs from those who either were involved in the group or had a family member or friend who was. We want to create the definitive book on the group to serve as a historical snapshot of scouting and the local area.

The Group was founded in 1909 and is one of the earliest scout groups in the country. I was a cub at First West Kirby in the early 1980s and have a heap of fond memories of camping and playing games. Originally located on Anglesey Road, we moved to Grange Cemetery after a fire devastated the hut.

Already we have had really positive interest from people across the world via Facebook and from our display in West Kirby Library. We hope to raise funds for the group from the proceeds of the book.

If you can help by providing a story, some facts, a memoir or even just an anecdote, then please contact me on our Facebook page First West Kirby Book, by Twitter using #1WKbook or @readnowwritenow, by email charles@readnowwritenow.org.uk or by leaving your piece at West Kirby Library. The deadline for articles will be 1st October 2015. Please also contact me if you are interested in buying a copy when it is published.

Thank you for your support, Charles Lea, Group Chair.

16 The Lake

Let’s Talk About Sport

OUR SUCCESS IS BASED ON THREE IMPORTANT FACTORS Product Range We select our products and suppliers very carefully on the basis of quality, range, price and reputation.

‘Let’s Talk About Sport’ – celebrated its first birthday in July, enjoying tea and cake to mark the occasion.

Staff

The group was set up as part of the work of KH2 Community Link Services, which carries out activities to benefit the community and in particular to benefit those who, through their individual or group circumstances, experience difficulties in accessing sport and cultural activities. ‘Let’s Talk About Sport’ aims to tackle social isolation (getting people – particularly older men – out to engage in the community), and improve the mental health of participants using reminiscence therapy to stimulate discussion about sport.

Our team of well-trained and motivated employees is dedicated to ensuring that our customers enjoy the best possible service.

Service We know that speed and accuracy of delivery are important, that is why we have invested in a delivery fleet that provides a fast same day FREE delivery service.

Our comprehensive knowledge of the motor parts industry coupled with, the widest possible range from the best suppliers mean that we can guarantee a price that is always competitive.

jim barrow 8 Durley Park Close, North CheshireTrading Estate, Wirral CH43 3DE

TELEPHONE 0151 609 0609

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In June 2014, Craig Gilmore, Course Manager of Royal Liverpool, was the group’s inaugural guest. Craig’s talk about preparing the course for the Open set a high bar for the group’s future guests that have included Brian Barnes (Olympian and disability sport champion), Wendy Owen (former professional footballer) and John Ashcroft (RAF West Kirby Entertainment’s Officer). A highlight of the year was undoubtedly the visit to Royal Liverpool Golf Club where Club Historian Jo Pinnington provided a fascinating tour of the Clubhouse illustrating its rich history. Last month, Ruth Calcott, gave an insightful talk entitled ‘Olympic Obstacle Race’, reflecting on the intense physical and mental demands of elite sport through the story of her grandson, Team GB rower – Alex Partridge. Recent guest Jonny Mellor grew up in Irby and went to Pensby High School where he developed a talent for long distance running. After moving from Wirral AC to Liverpool Harriers he now lives and trains in Stockport and competed in his first Commonwealth Games in Glasgow last year. He has his eyes firmly set on securing a place at Rio 2016.

The group meets on the first Wednesday of the month from 1.30pm-3pm at St Hildeburgh’s Community Centre in Hoylake. It was set up using a West Wirral Community Grant and they are currently applying for funding to keep the group going into 2016.

New people are welcome and there is no charge to participants.

October’s guest (October 7th) will be Louise Gittins (nee Bennington).

Pat Bennington – her Mum - is a regular participant in ‘Let’s Talk About Sport’. Louise is Councillor for Little Neston and Burton and her talk will be on ‘The ascent of Kilimanjaro’.

Dinner and a bottle of wine EACH plus a movie for £20 per person!

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18 The Lake

Birkenhead Park New York connection

By Ryan Ferguson In the heart of Manhattan, amid canyons of steel and bustling roads hogged by roaring yellow taxis, a magnificent park unfurls as the predominant green space of a sprawling metropolis. With over 800 acres of pleasant terrain, dotted with more than 24,000 trees and offering some 9,000 benches, Central Park is an oasis of culture and nature; a hub of stunning versatility that enthrals 35 million visitors annually. In every way, it’s the world’s most famous park.

Yet, quite remarkably, this landmark of global renown has close ties to Wirral, and is forever indebted to Birkenhead Park, which, as the world’s first publicly-funded park, was a source of wonder and inspiration to the man who ultimately designed New York’s famous backyard. Indeed, Central Park shows plenty of similarities to its Birkenhead forebear, with many of its lakes cast in the same shape and its general concept of creating a rural idyll in an urban jungle copied to great effect. Quite simply, without Birkenhead Park, there would be no Central Park, at least not in the wonderful guise we adore today.

The initial idea for a park in Wirral’s heartland was proffered by Sir William Jackson, who approached an improvement commission within Birkenhead’s government and outlined his vision in 1841. The commission officially sanctioned the project, and, through a Private Act of Parliament, managed to secure access to public funds for its completion. This was truly a historic case, marking what many believe to be the first publicly-financed park in the world.

There was evidently a dire need for such open space as industrialisation encroached on Victorian Birkenhead. In 1842, the popular Liverpool Courier newspaper pontificated on the subject, explaining how “bricks and mortar are so fast taking the place of green fields, and sooty vapours are so thickly mingling with the fragrant breezes, that Birkenhead will soon no longer be in the country. It is therefore good policy to provide a healthy and agreeable place of resort to secure the permanent benefits of pure air and exercise, at a moderate distance from the town, while this can be done at a comparatively trifling cost.”

Indeed, the improvement commission soon bought 226 acres of marshy land in Birkenhead, and hired influential architect Joseph Paxton to design the park. A noted gardener at Chatsworth House, and later the visionary behind the Crystal Palace, Paxton wanted the prospective Birkenhead

Birkenhead Park

Park to be natural and informal, with many different types of shrubs, trees, lakes and bridges providing surprising vistas.

Ultimately, Paxton wanted to create a countryside retreat in a fairly built-up area; a place of rest and relaxation in a town of increasing noise and activity.

only tell you that we passed by winding paths, over acres and acres, with a constant varying surface, where on all sides were growing every variety of shrubs and flowers, with more than natural grace, all set in borders of greenest, closest turf, and all kept with consummate neatness.”

Work began in 1844, overseen by Edward Kemp. It took 1,000 men over three years to make Paxton’s design spring from fantasy design to startling reality. Finally, on 5th April, 1847, Birkenhead Park was opened, in a ceremony attended by more than 10,000 people. The park was a sight to behold, with its varying colours, thriving wildlife and grand front entrance redolent of Paris’ Arc de Triomphe. Birkenhead had every right to be proud.

While Olmsted was enjoying the sights and sounds of Wirral, back home in New York, the need for a similar open green space was reaching critical mass. Between 1821 and 1855, the city’s population would more than quadruple, from 125,000 to over 515,000, as the settlement morphed into a chaotic metropolis; a nerve centre for the nation’s activity.

In 1850, the park’s splendour was experienced first-hand by American landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who travelled to Liverpool via ship and visited Wirral soon after arrival.

In later writing, Olmsted concluded that Birkenhead was a “model town”, which was built “in all accordance with the advanced science, taste and enterprising spirits that are supposed to distinguish the nineteenth century.”

Specifically of Birkenhead Park, Olmsted wrote how “five minutes of admiration and a few more spent studying the manner in which art had been employed to obtain from nature so much beauty” left him “ready to admit that, in democratic America, there was nothing to be thought of as comparable with this People’s Garden.”

Olmsted waxed lyrical about the park’s gardening, labelling it “perfect” and explaining that: “I cannot undertake to describe the effect of so much taste and skill as had evidently been employed. I will

As New York grew, so too did the need for a natural, communal space away from the clattering howl and filthy pollution of city life. Local residents soon began campaigning for a park, citing a desire for fresh air and space for societal activity. In agreement, the New York legislature sought to buy land for such a venture and, after several aborted attempts, ultimately settled on a 700-acre plot between 59th and 106th streets in Manhattan. At a princely cost of $5m dollars, the city purchased land that would soon be fashioned into the grandest park in geographical history.

The State appointed a Central Park Commission tasked with giving structure to the populace’s yearning for a park.

The Commission’s first objective was to conjure up a design of some sort: a challenge it passed on to the citizenry in the form of an open design contest.

Essentially, anybody could submit their vision for the city’s new park, so long as it included specific features such as a tower, flower garden, an ice rink, and three baseball diamonds to quench the nation’s nascent fascination with the sport.

The Lake 19

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Tel: 0151 632 6979 Once all the entries were collected, one stood out to the Commission more than most, mainly for its innovative ideas for minimising traffic and providing varied views throughout the park. Soon, the winning designers were announced as Calvert Vaux and one Mr Frederick Law Olmsted, whose vision, dubbed the Greenswald Plan, was heavily influenced by the experiences of Birkenhead Park. The winning design would share many features with Wirral’s park, with bridges, surfaces and lakes of particular similarity. Olmsted and Vaux also drew inspiration from Derby Arboretum and traditional American cemeteries, which, in the absence of parks, had been the country’s

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primary source of communal outdoor space.

But the likeness to Birkenhead Park would be striking upon completion.

to pass through the park, protecting the sanctity of its purpose: to provide respite from the hubbub of daily life.

To that end, five million cubic yards of stone and topsoil were deployed in moulding New York’s masterful park, which would transform an unpromising bog of quarries and pig farms into a space of unending enchantment. In summer, baseball was played before excited crowds, and concerts drew people from their cramped downtown dwellings. In winter, folks skated on the rink and enjoyed the crisp air, hitherto a novelty in New York.

On weekends, cars would not be allowed

Over the next century-and-a-half, Gotham’s green retreat suffered through periods of decline and neglect, but always came back better than before. Pioneers such as Mayor Fiorello La Guardia and city planning tzar Robert Moses eventually set the park on course for prosperity, before the spirit and endeavour of well-meaning residents in the 1980s and 90s helped it evolve into the beloved tourist attraction we know today.

Central Park

Similarly, Birkenhead Park has had tough times, and many would argue that the park is currently in quite a sorry state compared to its halcyon days. Yet, more than 150 years after construction, Wirral’s defining outdoor space still looms large in the history books, mainly for its trailblazing influence around the globe.

Ultimately, Central Park is today the pre-eminent park in the greatest, most important city on earth. But, as Wirral residents, we have a right to feel proud that, without the template from our neck of the woods, New York would never have created such a landmark, and the world may never have grown to appreciate the magnificence of rural respite in the bog of urban existence.

20 The Lake

West Kirby Sailing Club 100th Regatta

By Phil Shepherd West Kirby Sailing Club was founded in 1901. This summer we celebrated our 100th regatta, the first not being held until 1906 and several being lost to war or weather.

Members, past and present, came from as far as Australia, to race and celebrate.

So it was on a beautiful Friday that 47 boats from all the classes competed in a handicap long distance race to start the event. The President, Peter Price, won in his Falcon, Harrier”, followed by Andy Potter of Dee SC in a catamaran, and Martin Whittingham Jones in his Falcon.

In the evening the lake races ran with ten Cadets (1. Alex and James Colquitt, 2. Octavia Owen and James Bromilow, 3. Ella Marston and George Colquitt), a fleet of Optimists (1. George Creasey, 2. Gina Nicholson, 3. Harriette Brown), a Handicap fleet (1. Thomas James, 2. Simon Hall, 3. James Waddington), and the Illusion fleet (1. Richard Cornah, 2. Peter Williams, 3. David Pilling).

Meanwhile, Helen Brown’s magnificent team cooked a barbeque supper for the very large numbers who raced or came to attend the cocktail party that followed. This was attended by Mayor and Mayoress of Wirral, Les Rowlands and his wife Paula. The Mayor kindly presented the prizes before Pete Raven entertained with live music. The evening was very relaxed and enormous fun for all the families present.

On the Saturday and Sunday, the dinghies and tidal classes were given separate courses. In Falcons, Peter Price won the first three races, which still enabled him to win the Point of Ayr Trophy, despite retiring with a broken rudder in the 4th; the Hilbres had very close racing, but Jemima Riley won the Charles Reid Salver; in the Stars, Bruce Watkin won the Malcolm McWhor Memorial Cup; other wins were Operas, Gavin Melling; Dart 18s, Simon

WKSC Team Racing World Championship medal winners

Moruzzi; Slow Catamarans, Jon Waddington; Fast Handicap, Jamie Marston’s International Canoe; Medium Handicap, David Potter’s Finn; Slow Handicap, Alex Colquitt in a Cadet; and Cruisers, Keith Roberts.

After the sailing on Saturday, our team of volunteer caterers, the Galley Girls, managed to produce 200 fabulous buffet lunches, which were consumed to music by a string quartet, before another guitar set.

Mark Giardelli kept the youngsters happy with his Human Gyroscope machine, while several casks of real ale helped to build up appetites again for a hog roast.

On Sunday, the wonderful Galley Girls again excelled, with tiered stands of sandwiches and cakes, served with cups of tea.

The event was a great success, due to the organisation of Jim Bramley, event director, and the vast number of volunteers who helped with registration, rescue, committee boats and catering. We also thank Rooster, Running Imp, Wirral Sports and Liverpool Powerboats for their prize sponsorship.

COMMUNITY WKSC is part of the community, the majority of our members being local. We are proud to support the community in areas as diverse as our Firework Display on Bonfire Night, in support of the RNLI, our support for the sailing of Wirral Marine Disabled Association, Hoylake Sea Cadets, and Liverpool and Manchester universities, and in giving a sailing experience to Wirral Carers, Barnado’s Children and the visiting children from Chernobyl. This year we

provided a base for Dragon Boat racing to raise funds for the Headway charity.

NATIONAL RESULTS There have been some exceptional achievements by members, particularly the Juniors, so far this summer: Albacore National Championships: Mike Hartley, Alex Jardine came 5th Cadet World Championships, Lake Garda: Alex and James Colquitt came 3rd in the promotional fleet Mirror National Championships: Alex and James Colquitt came 10th in a borrowed boat Firefly National Championships: Hollie Marston is a National Champion!

Feva World Championships, Germany: Simon Hall, Ernie Cockram, Alex Middleton, James Haye competed Cornish Shrimper Week: Race winners: Richard and Jane Cornah World Team Racing Championships: West Kirby achieved bronze in seniors, silver in U19, both teams losing to USA teams. Seniors: Andy Cornah, Tom Foster, Ben Field, Debs Steele, Hamish Walker, Dom Johnson. U19s: Ruby Riggs, Octavia Owen, Hebe Hemming, Hollie Marston, Amber Riggs, Alex Colquitt.

We applaud all these, and many others who have sailed around Britain in major events.

Phil Shepherd, Commodore Contact: office@wksc.org.uk 0151 6255579

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22 The Lake

War Horse Story

By Helen Carr St Bridget’s Centre, St Bridget’s Lane, West Kirby CH48 3JT

West Kirby Museum Events Friday 6th November

Elizabeth Davey will give an illustrated talk on ‘Wirral in War and Peace’.

Doors open 7.00 pm for 7.30 pm start.

Saturday 7th November from 10.00am – 4.00 pm

West Kirby Remembers WW1 exhibition.

There will be lots of displays to browse, including Animals in WW1, Women in WW1, The West Kirby Home Front etc. The Red Cross and Wirral Home Front Society will be bringing their wonderful displays. The Cheshire Home Guard will be bringing their ‘Mercy Dog’. The West Kirby Museum Research Group will have a searchable database about local WW1 casualties. Please come and share your stories and memorabilia.

There will also be local history books for sale.

Admission is free and refreshments will be available.

www.westkirbymuseum.co.uk

A lovely WW1 local story has been handed into the West Kirby Museum Research Group. It is about a war horse called Blackie and Lieutenant Leonard Comer Wall. Leonard was born at West Kirby in 1896. He was the only Son of Charles Comer Wall and Kate (nee Earle).

His parents were married at St Andrew’s Anglican Church, Fogo, Newfoundland, on the 28th September 1895. His mother was born at Fogo, but partly educated in England. At the time of the 1891 census, she was 17 and boarding at a school run by Louisa Stowell at Kirby Park, Woodchurch, Cheshire.

Leonard’s father, Charles Comer Wall was a director in the firm of George Wall and Co. Limited, which was founded by his father.

They were in business as grocers, provision merchants and margarine manufacturers.

Leonard was living with his parents at 901 Leigh Road, West Kirby.

His mother’s brother, Hemy Earle, a 21-year-old undergraduate and his father’s second cousin, two-year-old Helen M Wall were also members of the household at this time Leonard was educated at Clifton College, Bristol and was still there as a pupil when the First World War broke out. Leonard obtained a Commission in the 1st West Lancashire Brigade Royal Field Artillery and was posted to the Western Front with his Battalion on the 9th September 1915.

This is possibly where he teamed up with Blackie. Lieutenant Leonard Comer Wall, Royal Field Artillery-A-Battery, 275th Brigade and his horse Blackie, were part of a unit on the second campaign at Ypres on 7th June 1917. This was the Battle of Messines-Wytschaete Ridge. On 9th June a German shell landed nearby, tragically killing Leonard and wounding Blackie. Blackie survived the war and Leonard’s mother, Mrs K. Cromer Wall, bought Blackie from the Army and lent him to the Territorial Army Riding School Liverpool. He was pensioned off at the age of 35. He became blind and died in 1942.

He is buried at the RSPCA Horses Rest, Hunts Cross. Liverpool with Leonard’s Medals. Leonard is buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium. We are trying to find out anything at all about the family and especially any photographs of Blackie and Leonard that they may like to share with the West Kirby Museum Research Group.

It is such a lovely story and we would like to find out more.

Please contact 0151 625 7511 or thechappies@btinternet.com if you can help.

The Lake 23

Wirral Wetrooms making a splash There’s nothing quite like a new bathroom designed with you in mind. Waking up to a designer en-suite can certainly take the edge off an early morning, and coming home to a bathroom that is tailored for your needs is a welcome tonic to a hard day’s work.

Wirral Wetrooms We design, supply & install bathrooms & wetrooms At Wirral Wetrooms, we pride ourselves in being one of the few showrooms in the UK who design, install and take full responsibility for all aspects of your bathroom project.

We bring attention to detail to create the perfect blend of aesthetics and functionality.

Wirral Wetrooms is the perfect answer in response to the growing demand for a tailored bathroom.

Offering a range of sophisticated international products to produce a bathroom unique to you, the customer, which will look as good in 10 years’ time as it does on day one.

At Wirral Wetrooms we never forget that we don‘t choose you – you choose us!

Your complete satisfaction is our number one priority.

Wirral Wetrooms, based at Thingwall Road, Irby, provide customers with bathrooms that cater to their exact requirements and believe that the luxury of a designer bathroom cannot be beaten. They bring attention to detail to create the perfect blend of aesthetics and functionality and offer a range of sophisticated international products to produce a bathroom unique to the customer, which will look as good in ten years’ time as it does on day one. Wirral Wetrooms specialise in bespoke wetrooms and bathrooms, with a professional team on hand at every step from design and installation to the completed, working bathroom.

The demand for custom-built bathrooms is growing and people are choosing to invest in their homes instead of moving, so it is important to them that the investment reflects both their personalities and practicalities.

Wetrooms are becoming increasingly popular. There are several appealing aspects of a shower without an enclosure. Glass screens often need constant maintenance and some smaller enclosures can feel claustrophobic whilst others take up too much space. Wetroom installations remove all the fuss and make a bathroom a cleaner, more spacious place to be.

Of course, glass screens are available if wanted and Wirral Wetrooms also offer overhead, wall mounted or combination shower heads, can place the shower at floor level or raise it up, and provide a variety of power options such as electric, pumped, thermostatic and digital, so there really is something for everyone.

Wirral Wetrooms will transform your bathroom into your own personal haven.The designers take into account lifestyle and taste when planning a bathroom and can provide anything: from the ultimate in minimalist, hi-tech bathrooms to elegant en-suites.

They pride themselves on providing clients with bathroom products manufactured to the highest standards of engineering. They are installed by their own fitters who use the finest quality materials to deliver unrivalled design and both aesthetic and functional appeal.

When a customer chooses them to supply or install their bathroom they strive to repay their trust in full with their dedicated service.”

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Wirral Wetrooms Bespoke Bathrooms & En-suites

Happy with your current bathroom but have some vacant space you would like to make use of? It could be under the stairs, in the loft, or simply be a room of an awkward shape and size – Wirral Wetrooms can design a perfect solution to fit.

Shower panels, furniture and fittings are all made to fit the customer’s unique project, turning a previously unused area into a chic and functional part of the home.

Although passionate about the designing process, Wirral Wetrooms believe that installation is primary in order to supply a fun, relaxing and stylish bathroom to customers. They take considerable care in all installations as they feel this is the most important part of any bathroom project. It is for this reason that they use their own trained staff so they have complete control from start to finish.

24 The Lake

as m t ris ings g h C ook ein B wb n no take

It’s all about the food at Julian’s Julian’s is a bistro-style, intimate restaurant, serving fresh, honest, home-made British Cuisine. Over the last 11 years It has earned a reputation as one of Wirral’s finest restaurants with mouth-watering, innovative cuisine together with friendly, professional, attentive service.

The Lake caught up with Chef Julian Davies to find out more...

What foods or meals hold the strongest childhood memories?

Shepherd’s Pie and Scouse.

Two Courses £13.90 from

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per person

www.juliansrestaurant.co.uk

What was your first job in the industry?

Bakery boy at 14 in Wales. Sugaring doughnuts, slicing bread, making tea and washing the boss’s Jaguar.

What has been the toughest challenge in your career?

Changing from team member to management at The Chester Grosvenor Hotel, Chester.

How would you best describe your style of cooking?

Old-fashioned British, embracing modern trends.

What are your favourite ingredients at the moment?

Fresh herbs (home grown), summer fruits, micro herbs. Our menus are seasonal so the usual main ingredients are always used, i.e. meat and fish, etc.

What do you cook for yourself if you manage to get a day off?

Seafood, pasta, Shepherd’s Pie. Do you have a signature dish and, if so, how did it come about?

Yes. Medallions of Pork Mirabelle (plum) cooked in cream, Calvados.

Poached apple and plum jelly. Influence Chester Grosvenor.

What is the best meal you have ever eaten and where was it?

Steak Tartare in St Tropez in the 1980s.

How do you choose wines and drinks to accompany your food?

We choose the most popular wine grapes of the moment, at present house wine favourites include Sauvignon Blanc and Malbec. Wines further down the list include French classics and New World wines.

We also have a beer list which includes two local breweries.

What can people expect when they come to your restaurant?

People can expect a very warm welcome, friendly and competent service and above all good, fresh, honest food with value for money.

Do you run theme nights at the restaurant?

Yes, we have theme nights usually once a month. We call it Quizine, as we have a quiz and menu to complement the theme. Next one is Sunday 8th November and is a Bond Night.

What sort of customers does your Julian’s attract?

Our customers are across the board, with youngsters, families and couples. We do attract people who love good food.

What do you think makes great customer service?

Great customer service starts when they are greeted with a smile on arrival. The dining experience ends with us holding the door for them on the way out, saying goodnight and hoping they will return.

Everything in between includes getting to know them, making them feel at home and serving good, fresh, honest food.

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26 The Lake

Wirral’s Leading Independent Garage ease. He attended many training courses at the Mercedes-Benz dedicated training centre, including diagnostics, electronics, drive authorisation, engines and model enhancements. He was also trained to install Tracker systems. In 2008, Tony went on to become a fully qualified MOT tester before leaving in 2009 to set up Benza-Autos.

Established in 2009, Benza Autos are an independent service, repair and MOT centre located in Langdale Court, Birkenhead. All servicing carried out by Benza Autos is in accordance with manufacturer service schedules, saving customers up to 60% off main dealer labour rates. All technicians are dealership trained and certified technicians.

Benza Autos uses Mercedes Benz, Peugeot and Citroen authorised parts and are able to complete your digital service booking online. Due to changes in European legislation block exemption means that

your manufacturer’s warranty will not be invalid if you bring your car to Benza Autos for servicing. All our service prices include a two-year genuine parts and labour warranty and we only use manufacturer recommended fully synthetic oil and lubricants tailored to your vehicle.

Owner of Benza Autos, Tony Davies, began his career at Hall Motors Peugeot, Birkenhead in 1995. In 2002, Tony saw an opportunity to further his career at Mercedes-Benz of Chester (formally Road Range). Tony was able to adapt himself to the new brand with

Manual and automatic courtesy cars or collection and delivery (within 5-mile radius) are available to all customers. The reception area offers a comfortable place to wait with free Wi-Fi and tea and coffee available.

“Our reputation is your guarantee!”

Servicing and repairs carried out by highly qualified technicians in a more relaxed and friendly environment.

Benza Autos are located just two minutes from the Wallasey Tunnel and the end of the M53 motorway.

Benza-Autos, Unit 1, Langdale Court, Birkenhead, Wirral, Merseyside CH41 8DT T: 0151 345 0847 E: info@benza-autos.co.uk W: www.benza-autos-wirral.co.uk

The Lake 27

The Bowen Technique the brain starts to reorder the signals it is also able to reinterpret the information coming from other areas, an example of why Bowen will often set off reactions in areas that haven’t been treated.

How many treatments will I need to have?

What is the Bowen Technique?

The Bowen Technique is a remedial therapy tool. It is used by therapists mainly to help people who are in pain or discomfort for one reason or another. This is a gentle therapy that works over the soft tissue of the client and features lots of rests in between moves to allow the body to start working with the information. Developed by Tom Bowen, many valid forms of his work exist in the world today.

How does it work?

There have been many theories put forward in the past relating to why Bowen works and there are many people who, conversely, believe that we don’t need to know. They may have a point, but these days there is much more that we can understand and acceptance from the medical community and wider use of the technique by health professionals will come from a better understanding of what happens during a Bowen treatment.

Recently the concept of the way in which the brain reacts to neural stimulus has been looked at in more detail and is the subject of ongoing research by ECBS. The brain emits in the region of 600,000 signals per second, all of which both send out signals and in turn receive information from the body. A muscular movement for example begins from the primary motor cortex at the front of the brain and is sent, via the spinal cord, to the arm or leg where it is translated into movement. In order to gauge this, however, the brain needs to receive a signal telling it what is happening and what to do next and this it does via the parietal lobe of the brain.

The effect is a kind of looping circuit travelling at massive speeds, sending and receiving information. A Bowen move which is a series of gentle rolling moves, followed by breaks at certain intervals, interferes with this signal and creates another set of parameters for the brain to examine. Once

There are no guarantees here because everyone responds differently but, on average, the number of treatments required for, say, a stiff neck or back is around three.

Some problems need more treatments and some even fewer, but what won’t happen is that you will be required to have a long course of treatment, only to find that it hasn’t helped. Although there are never any promises, you should in most cases start to see change fairly quickly.

To learn more about Bowen Therapy or for further details contact Nicholas Tobin Cert. ECBS in Heswall on 0749 659 6969 or alternatively visit: www.wirralbowentherapy.co.uk

28 The Lake

Wirral Chamber Music Series 2015-16 Promoted by Hoylake Chamber Concert Society

St Hildeburgh’s Church, Hoylake CH47 1HL Monday 28 September 2015 Aurea Quartet

Monday 26 October 2015 Torchwood Ensemble

Monday 30 November 2015 Cavaleri Quartet

String Quartet

String Sextet

String Quartet

Monday 22 February 2016 Ruisi and Duisen

Monday 21 March 2016 Albany Trio

Monday 18 April 2016 Alexander Soares

Violin & Piano Duo

Piano Trio

Pianist

All concerts start at 7.30pm. Tickets £15 at the door For more information on the repertoires visit our website – www.chamberconcert.co.uk in chamber music competitions and in November will perform string quartets by Mozart and Brahms, and Cuarteto Iberico, a new work by David Dubery that the Cavaleri premiered and recorded, to much acclaim.

Cavaleri Quartet

Hoylake Chamber Concert Society returns to St Hildeburgh’s in Hoylake for their 2015–16 season.

The Hoylake Chamber Concert Society (HCCS) is pleased to announce that their 2015–16 season concerts will take place at St Hildeburgh’s church in Hoylake. For the past five years the HCCS has enjoyed a very successful series of concerts at Westbourne Hall in West Kirby.

The move back to St Hildeburgh’s to start the 89th season has been facilitated by the kind bequest to the church of a Yamaha grand piano, which will provide an opportunity to expand the programming to include a greater selection of wonderful piano-based chamber music.

The season commences in September with the Aurea String Quartet, winner of the 2014 St Martin-in-the-Fields Chamber Music Competition, who will perform an eclectic programme of Arvo Pärt, Webern, Lajtha, Sibelius and Schumann. Pärt arranged Fratres for multiple instrumentations over two decades, and the string quartet version is hauntingly beautiful. In October the Torchwood Ensemble, composed of members of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, will perform string sextets by Richard Strauss and Brahms, and a quintet by Mozart. Strauss’s sextet is a delightful piece that opens his last opera Capriccio, a two and a half hour long conversation about which is a greater art – poetry or music. Martyn Jackson, currently leader of the Cavaleri String Quartet, delivered an astonishingly polished and well-interpreted performance as a solo violinist with the pianist Alison Rhind at an HCCS recital in March 2014. The Cavaleri Quartet has won multiple international awards

In 2016, Alessandro Ruisi, who is leader of the Ruisi String Quartet that recently enthralled the audience with a superb performance, will be returning as a solo violinist with the pianist Dina Duisen in February.

Among their repertoire is Cesar Franck’s violin sonata, one of the finest compositions for violin and piano. The Albany Trio has championed repertoires by female composers and in March will be performing piano trios by Cécile Chaminade and Rebecca Clarke, works that are hallmarks of their strong compositional skills and should be heard more often. Alexander Soares is a young pianist whom Sean Rafferty (BBC Radio 3) described as giving a performance of “diamond clarity and authority,” and will be ending the season with a solo piano recital in April. His repertoire includes Kreisleriana, a superb composition in eight movements that Schumann dedicated to his future wife Clara Wieck in 1838.

The Hoylake Chamber Concert Society has brought some of the best chamber music to the Wirral for the past 88 years. As always the new season is full of wonderful music, including new and old masterpieces.

All concerts are on Mondays at 7:30pm. Individual tickets are £15, and all concerts are free to children and students. Annual membership is available at a significant reduction at £60. Membership application forms can be downloaded from the ‘Tickets’ page on the society’s website www.chamberconcert.co.uk.

Enjoy world-class music on your doorstep!

St Hildeburgh’s

30 The Lake

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Last term West Kirby Primary School pioneered a new writing project for schools called ‘All Write Now’.

All the children in Year 6 contributed a story, poem or opinion piece which was then published to an anthology. As well as receiving a professionally designed, bound copy for each child, the school kindly donated two copies to West Kirby Library as a lasting legacy.

Based in West Kirby

Call 07779 55 44 33

Lees Solicitors extend sponsorship of Neston Hockey Club

The project uses the creative writing which the children are already accomplishing in school and is available to KS1 and KS2 children.

Mrs K Takashima, Head Teacher, announced that the project was “highly recommended” and that the school would “use this service again”.

Charles Lea, project director for Read Now Write Now, said: “This is a wonderful project to work on and inspires children to write and be proud of what they have achieved. It’s also a beautiful keepsake for parents and family members.

“The cost of the books is kept low so that any school can get involved. Local businesses are also being sought to sponsor individual schools. Schools then have the option to give the books to the children as leavers’ presents (as was the case at West Kirby Primary School) or for a small fee so that they can fundraise for themselves or for other local causes.”

The project has already garnered interest from a international trading company, Charles said: “Every school that signs up for the project this academic year will be entered into a competition for the best anthology. Look out for more details coming soon.”

Schools, PTAs and local businesses can learn more by emailing charles@readnowwritenow.org.uk, visiting the Read Now Write Now Facebook page or on Twitter @readnowwritenow.

Lees Solicitors are delighted to announce their continued support of Neston Hockey Club for the forthcoming 2015/16 season.

Stephen Webster, Business Development Manager at Lees Solicitors, commented: “The set-up at Neston is very impressive and the club really is central to the local community. We are delighted to sponsor the Hockey Club for a second season and play our part in the continued success of a club with a rich history. At Lees we are always keen to show our support for groups and organisations that support their local communities.”

Neston Hockey Club Chairman Kenny Gardiner added: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Lees Solicitors for the forthcoming season. It has been great to work with Lees over the last couple of years and we appreciate all the ongoing support.

We are looking forward to a good season and it’s exciting times for the club as we continue to develop and progress. It’s great to have a local Wirral-based company with such an excellent reputation as part of our team.”

Laura Pringle (West Kirby Library), Charles Lea (project director for Read Now Write Now) and Mrs K Takashima (Head Teacher) with Y6 pupils. Source – Wirral Globe.

Get Ready for a New Season of Southern Style Fun As we steam head first into autumn, the guys at everyone’s favourite Southern Style Smokehouse are getting ready for a jam-packed season of fun!

Following the success of the launch of their impressive new Veranda dining area this summer, the team have stepped up their programme of ‘must-do’ family activities and their autumn/winter programme looks set to be their best yet.

Ghoulish Fun Plans for their now famous Halloween Spooktacular are well under way, and the team says guests can expect a frightening amount of ghoulish fun from Friday 30th October all over the weekend.

Known for their authentic ‘All American’ approach to this most spooky of holidays, the team have told us that they will be going all out this year with amazing decorations, pumpkin carving competitions and their Haunted Halloween Trail, and are encouraging guests to go wild with their Halloween outfits – whatever their age!

Creepy Cocktails, themed food and heaps of outdoor fun will be on offer, along with their usual tricks and treats, so this is definitely not to be missed.

Time To Give Thanks As the leaves start to fall and the air becomes crisp with an autumnal chill, the team welcomes one of its most authentic American holidays – Thanksgiving.

As well as offering some special Southern-inspired dishes and autumn-infused cocktails, this also heralds the start of the Christmas season at Hickory’s and the elves will have been working through the night to transform the restaurant and terraces into a real winter wonderland.

As December hits, the restaurant will sparkle with festive charm.

Guests will be treated to the famous Southern Style holiday menu as well as a host of community gatherings, including the now legendary Christmas and New Year’s Eve family get-togethers.

When the bells chime on New Year’s Eve, this normally heralds the start of the hugely popular £10 deals – a selection of Southern Style favourites and platters at the very palatable rate of just £10 each, including a drink.

To say that Hickory’s have got family fun and relaxed dining ‘all wrapped up’ this season is something of an understatement – they have Southern Style hospitality for all by the bucketload and we couldn’t be happier to have them here at the heart of our Wirral hospitality scene.

32 The Lake

Welcome to the new film section for The Lake.

Each issue will provide a rundown of what’s on over the next few weeks. We will discuss blockbusters, indies and even arts screenings that are available for you to go and check out.

So, let me stop waffling and get right into it!

a matter of months later and it seems the entire industry took notice. This led to Warner Bros. and Ridley Scott wanting him to take on the Blade Runner sequel as a result. In the meantime we have Sicario, a crime drama starring the outstanding trio of Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro which has vibes of Soderbergh’s Traffic and Michael Mann’s Heat. Blunt plays FBI agent Kate Macer, who is enlisted into an elite government task force to help with America’s ongoing “war on drugs”. Macer quickly discovers that it’s a different game and the rules can change when operating in an uncontrollable and ferociously violent area in Mexico. Filled with suspense, violence and Hollywood big-hitters, Sicario is certainly one to watch for action and crime genre enthusiasts. Sicario opens October 9.

Roger Waters – The Wall – September 29th Based on the groundbreaking concept album, Roger Waters’ The Wall could be called a concept film: it’s a state-of-the-art show that dazzles the senses with pyrotechnics, “phantasmagoric puppets”, stunning animations, audio effects and 360-degree sound.

OCTOBER Royal Opera House (Live): Le nozze di Figaro – October 5th Often considered a perfect opera, Le nozze di Figaro is based on a play that was originally banned for its political content. The fast-moving libretto creates realistic characters made even more human by Mozart’s outstanding music.

THE MARTIAN

SPECTRE

The Martian is the eagerly anticipated adaptation of the Andy Weir novel of the same name. There are several reasons that you must watch this film: Ridley Scott, Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Kate Mara, Sean Bean, Michael Pena, Jeff Daniels, Donald Glover and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Sometimes the casting is enough to convince you to see a film and I think this is one of those times! The film follows a manned mission to Mars. Astronaut Mark Watney (Damon) is lost after a fierce storm and, presumed dead, is left behind by his crew. Watney then finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet with the recovery mission set to take over four years to reach him, yet he only has provisions and oxygen to last just over a month. According to Whatney, he is going to have to “science the hell” out of this conundrum for any chance of survival! The Martian opens September 30.

Following the $1bn Skyfall in 2012 this October will see the release of the 24th Bond instalment, Spectre. Once again, local boy Daniel Craig returns as 007 on his latest quest to stop tyranny in its tracks. The spy thriller is directed by the supremely talented Sam Mendes and shot

by Hoyte Von Hoytema (also the cinematographer for Interstellar and Her!), so audiences can sleep easy knowing that Spectre will at the very least be as visually stunning as Skyfall. Among the returning cast is Ralph Fiennes reprising his role as M, Naomie Harris as Moneypenny and Ben Wishaw as Q. In addition to an already stellar cast we can look forward to seeing Christoph Waltz (a man born to play a Bond villain!) playing supervillain Franz Oberhauser, along with Monica Bellucci and Lea Seydoux. Spectre opens October 26.

Also this September: American Ultra – 4th Me, Earl and the Dying Girl – 4th Everest – 18th 99 Homes – 25th Crimson Peak – 25th

Also this October: Hotel Transylvania 2 – 16th Burnt – 16th Pan – 16th Suffragette – 12th During September/October, The Light Cinema New Brighton is hosting a wealth of live cinema including theatre, opera and ballet.

SEPTEMBER Romeo and Juliet – September 22nd

SICARIO A decade ago, Denis Villeneuve was making highly acclaimed films while based in his hometown of Quebec. Along the way he picked up a string of nominations and wins from film festivals such as Sundance, TIFF and even Academy Award nominations. However, it was when he took his first steps into mainstream filmmaking with the critically acclaimed Prisoners that audiences took notice. Enemy was released

This Royal Opera House production of Romeo and Juliet is rich in the swaggering colour of Verona street life and in sword fights and celebrations. Kenneth MacMillan’s famous version of Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy set to Prokofiev’s magnificent score opens the 2015–16 Royal Opera House Live Cinema Season.

Coriolanus – September 24th Shakespeare’s searing tragedy of political manipulation and revenge, featuring a performance from Tom Hiddleston in the title role, is set to once again draw in big crowds.

The Importance of Being Earnest (Live) – October 8th Broadcast live to cinemas from the Vaudeville Theatre and directed by Adrian Noble, Wilde’s superb satire on Victorian manners is one of the funniest plays in the English language – the delightful repartee and hilarious piercing of hypocrisy and pomposity will make you laugh out loud!

Bolshoi Ballet (Live): Giselle – debut – October 11th A doomed love affair ending in tragedy, a dive into fantasy and ultimate redemption through the power of love. The Bolshoi is renowned for its intimate and emotionally intense interpretation of this beloved drama.

National Theatre (Live): Hamlet – October 15th Academy Award nominee Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock, The Imitation Game, Frankenstein), takes on the title role of Shakespeare’s great tragedy at the National Theatre.

English National Opera: The Barber of Seville – October 19th Filled with fun and farce, National Opera’s classic staging of this sunny adventure follows the escapades of the barber Figaro as he assists Count Almaviva to prise the beautiful yet feisty Rosina away from her lecherous guardian Dr Bartolo.

Royal Shakespeare Company (Live): Henry V – October 21st Henry IV is dead and Hal is King. With England in a state of unrest, he must leave his rebellious youth behind and strive to gain the respect of both his nobles and his people.

Craig Barton works within film exhibition at Cineplex’s and Film Festivals and is a former lecturer of film and creative media.

Release dates courtesy of IMDB.com and The Light cinema.

The Lake 33

(Sun) Spot the difference Although you’d be forgiven for thinking we’ve not had a summer this year, our skin has still been exposed to UVA and UVB and this causes damage in the form of pigmentation (sunspots).

Tracey Locke, lead clinician at Serenity Clinic Ltd. has some great tips on treatments and prevention, so you can really ‘spot the difference’ when it comes to skin tone and pigmentation.

Most people concentrate on wrinkles when it comes to the signs of ageing. But dull, uneven skin tone, redness, sunspots, age spots and hyper-pigmentation have a drastic impact on the way we look and how others perceive us.

Microdermabrasion: A good starting point for superficial pigmentation.

Removes dead skin cells, brightens and smooths to reduce the appearance of pigmentation. It also enables enhanced penetration of products for better results.

A study by biologists Dr Karl Grammer and Dr Bernhard Fink* found that uneven skin tone can add up to 12 years to a woman’s perceived age! This is a shocking statistic, yet many people are unaware of the causes, effects, prevention or treatments of hyper-pigmentation.

Facials: Your aesthetician should be able to advise you based on your needs, but vitamins A, C and E, antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, AHA, BHA and Idebenone are key ingredients in brightening the skin and battling pigmentation.

What is pigmentation?

Peels: This doesn’t have to be a harsh chemical peel. Glycolic and Salicylic acids in non-chemical peels are very effective and there are several pigment-specific peels such as the Lightening Lift, Alpha Beta and CoffeeBerry Enzyme peel that can work wonders.

We all produce melanin (except in albinism), which is what gives our hair and skin colour, but if the skin (the body’s largest organ) is damaged or attacked by factors such as UV exposure, it increases melanin production. This is what causes darker patches to appear in the form of either small ‘spots’ or more widespread discoloration across the face, cheeks, etc.

Causes

Antioxidant Infusion: Mesotherapy (no needles) and dermal rollering are a great way to infuse vitamins, antioxidants and other pigment-fighting products to brighten, even tone, improve texture and reduce pigmentation.

There are three main causes of uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation that can affect people of any age.

Light Therapy: Pure light (no UVA or UVB) stimulates your own biological processes to even out pigmentation and improve texture and tone.

Lentigines: Better known as age spots, sunspots or liver spots.

These are caused by UV exposure as the body’s repair response kicks in to protect against photo-ageing. Although more evident as we age, sunspots can take up to 20 years to develop so should be addressed sooner rather than later.

Laser/IPL: Using cold 3B lasers and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), this treatment is highly effective on most pigmentation, including UV exposure and melasma as well as scarring and red pigmentation such as Rosacea.

Melasma: Caused by hormones due to pregnancy, menopause, the contraceptive pill or even certain medications. It tends to affect larger areas across the cheeks, chin, forehead and nose and can vary in colour from light to dark brown to grey.

Post-inflammatory Pigmentation (PIH): The result of skin trauma or damage, such as acne, psoriasis or burns.

Treatments As with any skin concern there is no such thing as a ‘one treatment fits all’, neither is there a ‘magic’ lotion or potion, and this is particularly true for pigmentation. With the varied causes and severity of uneven skin tone, I would always recommend a skin analysis with a suitably qualified aesthetician. In my experience, it’s often a combination of therapies including treatments and homecare products that achieve the optimum results.

Skin Products: I may have said there are no magic lotions and potions, but in combination with treatments, there are some fantastic cosmeceutical (advanced products available from clinics) pigmentation-suppressing homecare products. Containing similar ingredients to clinical treatments such as Vitamin C, Idebenone, and packed with antioxidants, these include: Priori’s CoffeeBerry Brightening Complex, advanced AHA and Idebenone peels, Vitage Vitamin C Radiance Serum and DiamondTome™ Medical Microdermabrasion, Image™ Vital C cleanser, IIluma™ lightening serum, brightening crème and bleaching serum.

Prevention Although I make my living helping people address skin problems, I’d far rather they were prevented rather than ‘cured’. There are simple steps you can take to reduce the risk of pigmentation: • Exfoliate using a product with glycolic acid to remove dead and damaged cells and encourage new cell production.

• Use pigment suppressing serums and antioxidant-boosting products to reduce existing damage and prevent further excess pigment production.

• Avoid the sun and wear sunscreen (minimum SPF30) every day.

If you don’t take my advice on anything else… “Trust me on the sunscreen”.

Serenity Clinic Ltd, 162 Banks Road, West Kirby, Wirral CH48 0RH T: 0151 625 6256 www.serenity-clinic.co.uk *Published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior.

34 The Lake

UCAS Personal Statement Top tips from a UCAS Adviser

By Susanne Christian Is your child or grandchild just starting Year 13 (upper sixth)? If they’re planning to go to university, they should have started their application by now.

University applications open each year on 15th September. But there’s no need for panic. The deadline for most applications is 15th January 2016. (Only medicine, veterinary medicine/science, dentistry and Oxbridge applications have the earlier deadline of 15th October).

Chances are your son or daughter, grandson or granddaughter is grappling with their personal statement. They have to make an impression in 75 lines/4,000 characters – and that includes spaces!

This is the section of the UCAS application which causes most trouble, requires the greatest effort and takes the most time.

And quite right too. The personal statement is arguably the most important part of any university application. It can hold the key to distinguishing a successful application from one which ends up on the reject pile.

Convincing admissions staff to offer a place can be a daunting task for any sixth form student. Some feel they have too much to say – how will I ever fit it all into 75 lines?

Others are thinking what have I got to say about myself – how can I fill 20 lines, let alone 75?

Often it’s the first time your son or daughter has to write about themselves to try to impress someone else.

Dos and don’ts • Do remember that the personal statement is intended to show admissions staff that you are interested in their subject and motivated enough to work hard so you pass the course.

• Don’t write your statement straight onto the UCAS site – set it up as a Word document, which you can copy and paste into your application later. (The UCAS site times you out and it would be a pity to lose your carefully worded statement.)

• Do make it personal. It needs to be about you – so write personally, not generally.

Don’t be afraid to write ‘I...’.

• Don’t copy anyone else’s statement (or part of a statement). UCAS has very sophisticated plagiarism software which can detect duplication.

• Don’t rush it. Writing your statement at the last minute just before the closing date won’t allow you to do justice to yourself. If you haven’t already started your personal statement – start NOW! • Do link your personal statement to your future career plans. Admissions staff are interested to hear why you want to study their subject.

• Don’t try to write your personal statement in one session. Expect to draft and redraft. Write some, or all, of your statement then give yourself time to look over it again (and again!) and work on it until you’re happy with it.

•

Do show your personal statement to someone else. At least one of your teachers or tutors will see your application anyway to add the reference.

But someone at home can tell you if it sounds like you – and they may spot typos and spelling mistakes which you missed.

•

Don’t be dishonest. Making things up won’t sound genuine and you may slip up at an interview if you’re asked about something you made up.

•

Do expand on what you write about activities like work experience. Instead of just saying ‘I did two weeks work experience at…’, say a bit about what you learnt, how it links to the course, how it’s shaped your future plans, etc.

Still struggling with that personal statement?

Know what you want to say, but can’t quite put into words?

Not sure what to put in and what to leave out?

You’ve written your statement and it’s still too long?

Get help from a professional Book an appointment with Susanne Susanne is a fully qualified careers adviser with over 15 years’ experience of helping young people and adults with their university applications. As well as working with the National Careers Service, Susanne has worked as a UCAS adviser in a Further Education college.

Each August, Susanne is selected as one of the 40 top careers advisers in the country to be part of the UCAS Exam Results Helpline, spending A Level results day advising students, parents and teachers about Clearing, Adjustment and other options.

The Lake 35

Shorelines

Hoylake Cottage Day Services

By Stephen G Baker

Many people I know seem to have a relative with either a form of dementia or some type of cancer. When I was younger you seemed more likely to have a heart attack or a stroke. This might just be my impressions based on very anecdotal evidence, but that’s the way it looks from where I am sitting.

Someone said to me recently that they thought that it would be better to get cancer than dementia! Now I wouldn’t like to have make the choice, but I know where they are coming from. The prospect of beating cancer is higher than it ever was compared to the limited availability of treatment for people suffering from dementia. But having seen what friends have had to handle before they ‘beat’ cancer, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

As I look at loved ones who are suffering from dementia, I am reminded of the brevity and uncertainty of life. The condition seems to come and develop very quickly. Life is short, and wise people value and cherish the important and enduring things of life. You may ask what are they?

Experience in life quickly teaches you that ‘things’ are not the most important part of life. You can replace ‘things’ but you cannot replace people and you cannot replace ‘you’ or as the Bible puts it – your soul!

What about people?

The Bible teaches that you should nurture and value relationships. You should love your parents, love your spouse, love your children and love your friends.

We should be good neighbours, be kind, thoughtful and caring. Jesus taught that “loving your neighbour as yourself” sits just behind “loving God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind”. Incidentally, if we took this first commandment seriously, i.e. loving God with all our heart etc., everything else would fall into its proper place. You wouldn’t murder, steal, commit adultery, swear etc., as all of this, and more, is not acceptable to God.

What about your soul?

Jesus taught, and the Bible teaches in general, that your soul is the most valuable thing that you possess. Listen to the words of Jesus: they are pretty blunt and to the point. “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul”. Jesus is saying that is all that life can offer cannot be compared to the eternal value of your soul. That why Jesus died! Peter, one of the disciples and apostles of Jesus, wrote that those who pray and confess their sins to Jesus and trust Him to save them will receive the ‘salvation of their souls’. That is something that will outlive everything else in life. It gives hope to the sick and dying and strength to live for something that is of lasting value.

Please note that all quotations in this column are from the Bible.

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

We invited the local community to our Open Day on 20th June to show what we have been doing in recent months. I am pleased to inform you that this was a great success – hundreds of local people came to visit and enjoyed the day. Many people made enquiries about the new services we offer and took information away with them. Since the Open Day we have had lots of enquiries and many new visitors to our newly refurbished building, but we would like more people to have the opportunity to join us.

The interior is bright, airy and spacious with communal and quiet spaces and a beautiful garden lounge. Our visitors are enjoying the peace and tranquillity of our sensory garden, the tactile planting and water features.

The aim of the centre is to encourage visitors to take part in a wide range of stimulating fun activities, meet new people and have a good time.

The bathing, chiropody and hairdressing services are proving very popular. We also offer a specialist dementia day service managed by a Registered Mental Nurse, who is supported by a team of Level 3 healthcare assistants. This service supports people with dementia and their carers and also people with anxiety and depression. The centre is tastefully designed to reflect a homely environment with specially designed spaces to rekindle memories while providing the opportunity for staff to engage with, and capture the essence and personality of the people who visit.

We offer daily respite to carers at much less than the cost of three hours of domiciliary care in a comfortable, safe and stimulating environment which benefits the visitor using the service and allows the carer some free time to do whatever they choose. Visitors can sit, relax and read the paper, play chess or join in the many activities on offer, such as matinee afternoon, handicrafts, lunch, and enjoy good company. Hoylake Cottage also offers easy access, good parking, and a door-to-door, pick-up and drop-off transport service for those who attend for a full day.

So come and have a look around, talk to our experienced staff who work on a daily basis with our visitors and who you will get to know if you decide to join us.

More information about our day services can be found on our website.

If you need help, advice or support, then give us a call and we will be more than happy to talk to you and help in any way we can.

Telephone – 0151 632 3381 Email – info@hoylakecottage.org.uk Website – www.hoylakecottage.org.uk

36 The Lake

All Things Auctioneering

by John Bathurst Crane

Newton Street today Corned Beef and Aberdaron re-visited

Liverpool Auction Rooms

It is that time of year again when I am expected to take a break from work and spend a few days relaxing in the country well away from the Auction Rooms and busy city business life. I am now on holiday and enjoying writing my copy for this issue. As usual it is not a chore!

Last weekend I telephoned a person I had heard of in Las Vegas who runs a vintage necktie supply company. He has a stock of over 3,000 pre-owned ties dating back to the 1920s. All are for sale. It was lunchtime in Wales but only 5.30am in Las Vegas. I apologised immediately for waking him up. “Not a difficulty”, was the reply “We operate 24-7-52”. More about the vintage accessory that now adorns the space between my head and shoulders at a later date!

My annual holiday is only for a few days but the portable telephone keeps ringing and I have to say that it is generally a great pleasure and privilege to be able to help people in what are sometimes stressful situations, or to share my collecting experiences of many years ago and ‘All Things Auctioneering’ in today’s capricious marketplace. So, be it Las Vegas, Liverpool, Wirral or the solitude of the Welsh mountains in Snowdonia, where I have our Welsh Office, business continues as usual 24-7-52. My Welsh odyssey continues also…

Nostalgia can be a great comfort. In my view there is nothing wrong with evoking memories of the past with great fondness and maybe there is, now and then, a longing for those times to return, but as there is nothing so permanent as change, so be it. Some people seem to be engaged in a constant rush towards, and a need for transient novelty! You can’t change the past and our personal and family histories are the ‘stakes in the ground’ to which we tether ourselves – they are important. I work in the past every day, I live in the past and what’s more... I love it!

So a few weekends ago, one leg of my Welsh odyssey took me to Aberdaron on the Llyn Peninsula. I re-enacted a picnic I had there at the time when I was the proud owner of a bright new bucket and spade in 1952. Our pre-war Vauxhall 14, complete with running boards, blinds with silk tassels and pneumatic window wipers which wiped rain faster, the faster you drove, had chugged up many hills and happily descended at speed to be parked by St Hywyn’s Church where the great poet R. S. Thomas spent 11 years of his ministry. In the church there is a good collection of volumes of his poetry which can be bought. There is an honesty box!

R. S. Thomas privately printed his first books of poems in about 1947. He could not sell them nor give them away at any price. Now, if you can find one, they are prohibitively expensive.

Now, I have to confess at this point to a very dark and well-guarded secret. I collect small antique and vintage camping stoves. Rippingille stoves date from 1880 and Primus stoves from 1892. Now I know that camping stoves are grimy and may not look too good in the china cabinets of properties in leafy Wirral, but they do evoke great memories. On this trip though I used a 1960s vintage vacuum flask instead, but I remade the thick corned beef sandwiches which used to become laced with sand – they were as gritty as ever! A great trip evoking memories of sunny holidays in Wales when it never rained!

Lloyd George with ‘Frugal’ butter dish

While we are on the subject of Wales, memorabilia related to the great Liberal Prime Minister Hon. David Lloyd George is becoming quite sought after and a passion for some collectors. I have illustrated a plaster model figure of the said person with a very rare small ‘bachelors’ butter dish with the printed message encouraging the citizens of the Empire to be frugal with food during the years towards the end of the First World War. Has much changed one hundred years later?

Every working week I spend much of my time in Wirral attending to home visits to appraise objects for valuation and eventual preparation for sale. I have illustrated a postcard photograph of Newton Street in Hoylake in 1903 and as it is now. Postcard albums are now fairly valuable and contain a great deal of social history. Early to mid-20th century autograph albums are also good for auction and large ones with interesting signatures may make hundreds, if not thousands of pounds.

Newton Street 1903

One notable item, a Black Ball Shipping Line eggcup I discovered at a valuation evening at a local cricket club to raise funds for church repairs made £610 in our August auction. Small objects bring big results for happy vendors. In our July auction a good Chinese censer made £24,500 and another delighted vendor.

Black Ball Line Eggcup

Chinese Bronze Censer

Our August Bank Holiday Saturday, the Beatles auction at LIPA in Liverpool contains as usual some rare and previously unknown items, again discovered by me in Wirral. A Starways airline luggage label c1962 signed by Paul McCartney who also signed it on behalf of John Lennon (who was with him at the time), will bring several hundred pounds.

Starways luggage label

Luggage label with Beatles signatures

The Lake 37

A very rare Liverpool Cathedral booklet to coincide with the laying of the foundation stone and priced at three old pence in 1904 has been presented to me and will find its way into the Cathedral archives in due course. Not at all valuable, but full of interesting information and states that the whole cost of building the cathedral should be no more than £500,000!

There is currently an appeal for £24,000,000 for essential repairs and to continue the work and mission well into this century for the community of Merseyside and for people of all faiths and none.

In the auction rooms in Liverpool we have a busy schedule of autumn and winter auctions: three every month. The forthcoming auctions will feature good jewellery, silver, pictures, a collection of musical instruments and very good furniture, of which the ‘retro’ teak and rosewood furniture of the 1960s and 1970s is making extremely high prices for good or unusual examples.

In September we are pleased to be instructed to offer for sale an original David Shepherd (born 1931) painting. He is primarily known for his portrayal of steam locomotives and wildlife subjects which do make tens of thousands of pounds in the auction rooms. The picture we are offering depicts a Spitfire fighter aircraft despatching an enemy warplane. It is an extremely good picture and of good size. The subject may not be universally appealing these days, but fine pictures will find very keen buyers every time. David Shepherd wildlife portraits make anything from £30,000 to £50,000 at the moment; international bidders will decide the price of combat aircraft. There are several David Cartwright pictures depicting the gallantry of regiments at the Battle of Waterloo which should make in the mid to high hundreds.

Our website has now been upgraded and these and all the other lots in the September Fine Art Auction can be viewed on a link via our website at the end of August.

During the Heswall Arts Festival I will be giving a talk, discussion and ‘valuation for sale’ evening on Monday 28th September at Avanti Coffee Shop in Telegraph Road at 6.30pm. Proceeds to St Mary’s Church in Upton. The title of my talk

David Shepherd oil on canvas

will be ‘All Things Auctioneering’ which is a phrase coined by Steve Evans of Radio Clatterbridge where I chat every month and spend a pleasant hour in the studio there. Tickets are limited – details in the Heswall Arts Festival brochure and Avanti refreshments are available too on the night.

Finally – rarity is also sought after by gardeners and once again my Jostaberry crop has been gathered in and made into rare jam. The Jostaberry is a blackcurrant- gooseberry cross which crops heavily and has only been available on the general market since 1974. Large shrubs which need space... rare but recommended!

For home visits to discuss your collections or for advice about selling at auction, telephone me on 0151 342 2321 or 0151 709 5559. Website is CatoCrane.co.uk and twitter is @CatoCrane.

Very finally... Listen in to Wirral Radio 92.1 every other Tuesday when Adam Siddorn and I discuss the latest antique discoveries in the areas around Wirral and Cheshire.

Jostaberry crop at Cato Towers

See you at Avanti on 28th September or in the Liverpool Auction Rooms in Stanhope Street at our auctions. My Welsh full week away from work is nearly over for another year. It was nice to be back at home again in the familiar hills of my childhood but just as good getting back to ‘All Things Auctioneering’ 24-7-51!

38 The Lake

6. Reward yourself Make your reward something meaningful to you and not a little sweet treat, this is especially the case if your original goal was weight loss. Set yourself a time frame (maybe three or six months) and if you are still at your goal or well on your way to your next one, treat yourself to something special. It may be a new outfit in your new dress size, new gym kit to smash that race that you signed up for, or a manicure to make you feel a million dollars.

It’s a great feeling when you reach your weight loss or fitness goal! Now you have hit the real hard work though – how do you keep yourself there or find the motivation to keep going and hit the next goal? Zara Wylie, Head Fitness Coach at Fitness Queen Arrowe Park and West Kirby has spoken to The Lake about some methods she finds useful.

FITNESS QUEEN OF THE MONTH

1. Take time to remember this feeling Try to remember how you felt before you started aiming for your goal and sit and think about how you feel now. Every time you feel yourself taking a few steps back, stop and think about how you felt when you hit your goal. It will help keep you on track.

2. Make a list of reasons why you started When you feel yourself falling off the wagon and reaching for every sweet treat in sight, look at your list. It will act as a reminder that you started on this journey for a reason and stop you getting distracted in your busy stressful life.

3. Set yourself a new goal Your new goal doesn’t have to be similar to your initial goal. It may simply be to stay where you are or could be something entirely different. Setting yourself a new goal gives you a new aim and focus and stops you slipping back into old habits.

4. Make it a way of life By now the changes you have made to reach your goal will be pretty much everyday routine, but you might still need to think about them to keep you focused. The more you stick to the changes, the more ingrained they become – making them a way of life. Once you no longer need to make conscious choices, you know you’ve changed your attitudes.

5. Follow the 80/20 rule The 80/20 rule is pretty simple – you follow a healthy eating and active lifestyle 80% of the time and allow yourself little treats and days off from the gym 20% of the time. Following this rule means that you don’t go insane by denying yourself treats every time they are offered, and you don’t feel guilty on the odd day you don’t feel like going to the gym.

Christine Agnew

Congratulations to Christine Agnew from Fitness Queen Arrowe Park who is our Queen of the Month. Christine looked stunning on her wedding day earlier this year!

If you would like help with your shape-up goals, why not join our results-driven shape-up programme?

Sessions currently run in Arrowe Park, Heswall and West Kirby. Our years of success as trainers means we know exactly what it takes to get great results. We always manage to have a giggle, but are serious about transforming our members’ bodies.

We 100% guarantee results in just 21 days! Places are limited so why not contact us to book your place?

Did you know we are now offering free nutritional workshops that you can attend plus free nutritional training for fitness professionals? Please contact for more info.

Call: 07702844984 Email: zara.wylie@gmail.com Web: www.wirralfitness.info