November/December 2013

Issue 5 • November/December 2013

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

West Kirby Remembers • The Royal Hotel, Hoylake • Wirral Smugglers Documentary • Plus much more

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

Welcome to the fifth issue of The Lake.

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.

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.

Published by: Wirral Advertising Media Ltd, 42 Price Street Business Centre, Price Street, Birkenhead CH41 4JQ.

By email: jon@lakemagazine.co.uk or by post to: Jon Bion, Editor, The Lake, 42 Price Street Business Centre, Price Street, Birkenhead CH41 4JQ. 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 will be 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

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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

Pages 26-29

CONTENTS 04 West Kirby Remembers

32 Hoylake Tennis Club

08 Iconic Trees in West Kirby

34 Red Knot Army

10 West Kirby Sailing Club

35 Marine Conservation Society Volunteers

13 Don’t Let Winter Get Under Your Skin

36 Art’s Magical Powers

16 Unsinkable – RMS Titanic and RLGC

37 Under the Gavel

19 West Kirby Museum

38 C’est Chouette

20 The Royal Hotel, Hoylake

39 Local Churches this Christmas

22 My Photography by Marianthi Lainas

40 Vegetarian Paradise

24 Wirral Smugglers Documentary

42 Your Correspondence

31 Awarding Night for Local NHS Heroes

Front cover image – ‘Campervan’ by Steve Deer ‘Commended’ in Landscape Photographer of the Year 2013, printed in the book published by The Times and will be exhibited at The National Theatre, London 7th December 2013 - 8th February 2014.

This dramatic image was captured at West Kirby Marine Lake car park, early evening during August 2012 whilst a storm approaches over the Dee Estuary from North Wales.

High quality, fine art limited edition prints are available at www.artfinder.com/steve-deer or contact steve@stevedeer.co.uk • www.stevedeer.co.uk

04 The Lake

West Kirby Remembers World War I

By Heather Chapman West Kirby Remembers WW1 is an exciting new project recently commenced by West Kirby Museum Research Group. This project comes under the umbrella ‘Wirral Remembers’, a five-year rolling project of themed events running from 2014-2019, organised by Wirral Borough Council. Each Wirral village will plan their own events, highlighting and celebrating the contribution Wirral people made to WW1. West Kirby is invited to host such events, with displays, entertainments, drama, poetry, services, lectures etc and community groups and local schools are invited to take part in this project. Every year from 2014-2019 there will also be a Wirral major event with high profile activities.

West Kirby Museum Research group is studying every one of the 128 men listed on the memorial plaque in St Bridget’s church who died in WW1. Our aim is to find out all we can about these men, to be remembered as exceptional people who, in the call of duty, sacrificed their lives for their country.

Already we have uncovered lots of interesting information and met the descendants of some of these men. We are also investigating the brave West Kirby men who returned from WW1. We appeal to the public to come forward with photographs, diaries, memorabilia and family history information to help us in our quest.

One remarkable family is the Johnstone family of West Kirby. Johanna and Benjamin Johnstone lost five sons as a result of WW1.

Four sons died during the war and a further son, Sydney, died in 1921 as a result of the war. Another son, George, lost both his legs whilst serving in the war. The couple were honorary guests at the unveiling of the War Memorial on Grange Hill in 1922 and laid the first wreath. Descendants of this family live locally and we are most grateful for their help in putting this tragic but heroic story together.

Our group is also discovering the social impact of WW1 on West Kirby and its residents. A few events we have researched so far are: • The West Kirby Public Hall was taken over by the military from August 1914 until June 1915 and soldiers were billeted at the Christian Institute.

• A house in The Oatlands became a hospital for wounded soldiers.

• Mrs Stapledon and her committee founded the House of Goodwill at 35 Eaton Road, next to the Primitive Methodist Chapel.

The House of Goodwill offered holiday accommodation for wives, widows and children of soldiers and sailors.

• The Red Cross also played an important and strategic part in the Great War. • Social events and bazaars were organised to raise funds for the war effort.

St Bridget’s War Memorial

• Wives and children knitted goods for the soldiers and war bonds were purchased to support the war effort.

• Women had to take over many men’s jobs and some ladies worked in the munition factories.

• The absence of men at war also meant sports clubs/teams were often depleted.

• Submarine warfare, preventing safe docking of merchant ships, caused food shortages and eventual rationing.

• The Women’s Land Army was formed in 1917 and all available plots of arable land in West Kirby were used as allotments. The top park of Ashton Park became allotments.

• West Kirby schools had allotments and school timetables were adjusted to save fuel and light.

If your community group would like further information about Wirral Remembers, please contact Eileen Willshaw, Wirral Heritage Officer. Email: eileenwillshaw@wirral.gov.uk If you have any stories to tell us about how your West Kirby family was affected during the war, photographs or memorabilia you could lend us for our displays, or if you would like to join our research team please contact Sue Bunni on 0151 625 6097 or email susanbunni@googlemail.com

Grange Hill War Memorial

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06 The Lake

Doctor’s notes on African adventures is a hit on Amazon

Author Warren Durrant

A book written by a Wirral GP about his remarkable experiences in Africa has reached the coveted Number One spot on Amazon, the world’s bestselling bookshop.

Warren Durrant only launched Across the Wide Zambezi: A Doctor’s Life in Africa, recently, but is delighted with its success.

The book details his incredible adventures, which all began with a chance reading of a notice in a doctors’ magazine.

As a British GP, aged 39, unmarried and looking for something more exciting than signing sick-notes in Wallasey, Warren saw an advert in The British Medical Journal for a medical officer to work for a timber firm in West Africa.

At the London office he finds he is the only applicant. Undeterred, he flies out to Ghana, is taken up country to the town where he finds he is to be the sole doctor in area as big as an English county with thousands of people.

He will do everything from major surgery to public health. This is to be the pattern of his life for the next 22 years.

In his book, Warren describes a life of people, white and black, including plenty of characters.

Now retired and living in Wirral, Warren is delighted with the success of his first book.

It was the Kindle version of Warren’s book that took the top position in the biographies (medical) genre on Amazon.

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08 The Lake

Iconic Trees West Kirby

By Graham Lilley When you think of West Kirby or indeed west Wirral, trees do not immediately spring to mind. We do not live in a part of the country where trees proliferate – there are no great forests or woods. However, if you look carefully there are some interesting examples of trees – many of which are not native to Britain, as well as some which can be termed as ‘champions’ (more about this later).

Stone Pine

One of the great views in West Kirby is looking down Grange Road from its summit.

In the distance is the beach, Hilbre Island and North Wales. In the foreground is a distinctive tree with its double bough and umbrella-like crown. This is a Stone Pine (Pinus pinea). Such trees are rare in Britain and they originate from the Mediterranean and North Africa. It is thought that this example was planted in the 1860s, although a precise date is not known.

Monkey Puzzle

A bit further into the park stands a Monkey Puzzle (Araucaria araucana). Monkey Puzzles were first brought to Britain by Scottish plant-hunter Archibald Menzies. The story goes that he was given unfamiliar nuts for dessert during a banquet in Valparasio, Chile in 1792. He slipped five into his pocket, germinating them on the way home. From then the tree became popular and often appears in parks and gardens around Britain.

Finally, tucked in a corner between the men’s bowling green and the pond is a Blue Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica). Whilst not a large example (go to Bodnant Gardens in north Wales to see a real monster) – it stands out with its bright silver-grey needles.

Medlar Fruit

Blue Atlas Cedar

London Plane

In Ashton Park there are a number of trees worthy of note. If you go into the park from the Westbourne Road entrance, at the start of the children’s play area stands a London Plane (Platanus x hispanica). These trees are not rare but they are found in greatest abundance (as perhaps the name suggests) in the southern part of Britain. They are well known as being able to withstand polluted air – hence their planting in city parks. Nearby, adjacent to the pond, stands a good-looking, bushy Holm Oak (Quercus ilex).This a tree that appreciates mild weather being a non-native - having been introduced, like the Stone Pine, from the Mediterranean, in the 16th century.

My interest in trees stems from discovering a tree in my West Kirby backgarden which I have since had recorded as a county champion. The tree in question - a Medlar (Mespilus germanica) probably dates from Victorian times when there was an orchard on site. Medlar trees produce fruit which is inedible until it has ‘bletted’. Bletting occurs typically after the first frost of the year and the fruit almost turns rotten – so you have often have to wait until mid to late November to pick the fruits (unless you pick earlier and store). The taste is quite unique and it makes a great jelly or chutney. Originally from south-eastern Europe, the Medlar lost popularity during the 20th century, so many examples are quite old. However, it is now making a bit of a comeback.

Perhaps the ‘best’ tree in the West Kirby area can be found in Royden Park. I understand that it is the area’s only national champion tree – the Strawberry Tree (Arbutus menziesii), also known as Pacific Madrona. It originates from the west coast of the United States. It’s interesting to note its latin name which pays homage to Archibald Menzies – introducer of the Monkey Puzzle, who ‘discovered’ it on one of his early expeditions. It was probably brought to Royden Park at the time when it was fashionable for owners of large estates to seek out exotica from other parts of the world. The tree has gorgeous red bark which it sheds periodically.

What makes a tree a ‘champion’? Well, a tree gains champion status based on its height and/or girth (measured at 1.5 metres above the ground). A national champion is designated because it is the highest or has the greatest girth. Further down the scale there are county champions. There is a national tree register which is a database of all notable trees in Britain and Ireland. It is run by a charity and you can submit descriptions and photographs of trees you believe could be considered as champions.

Next to the Medlar stands a Mulberry Tree (Morus nigra) which dates from the same era.

Whilst not a champion, it is quite an impressive sight and produces edible, hand-staining berries in mid-summer. Again, it is not native to Britain coming to these shores from western Asia. One striking feature is that it comes to leaf very late in the year – after almost all other trees, and its leaves also fall much later in the year.

It’s great to see new trees being planted in the Grange Community Orchard and by pupils of Blackhorse Hill school, next to the cemetery on Grange Hill. There are various fruit trees here including Medlars and also Walnut trees. Hopefully there can be more trees planted in future. It would also be interesting to know if there are any other ‘champion’ trees which remain undiscovered in the area. They could be anywhere – open spaces, parks or like the Medlar – in a back garden. So, if you think you have found a ‘champion’ tree – contact the tree register at www.treeregister.org.uk. Happy hunting!

Mulberry

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10 The Lake

West Kirby Sailing Club Open Meetings

By Phil Shepherd West Kirby Sailing Club has recently hosted two open meetings. These are an opportunity for club members to compete against visitors who bring an edge to the competition, and for the visiting sailors to enjoy our wonderful waters and hospitality. For those travelling the competition circuit, the conditions at each venue bring fresh challenges.

Albacore Northern Championships Albacores are a thriving class at WKSC, being a fast, competitive boat for two people. There are 15 boats that turn out regularly to race, and several others who do their own thing.

Following the success of WKSC sailors at the Albacore National Championships where we succeeded in bringing back the Team Trophy for the top three boats from a club, a number of top quality sailors, including some ex world champions, came from as far afield as Norfolk for a weekend of racing, which was run brilliantly by Chris Hoppins.

The Saturday was very windy, rising to above 25 knots with choppy water for the last race. After an evening dinner and a good night’s sleep, the Sunday racing was in an easier 12 knots. The racing was really close for all the boats, changing places throughout each race, as they used their skills and strategies to make best use of the wind and tide on the estuary.

To my mind, the scene in the boatyard summarised the event. I arrived in the morning to find visitors and locals tuning their dinghies together, and swapping tips over traditional sailing breakfast of bacon baps.

In the end, Mike McNamara and Tom Linsell returned home to Grimsby with the trophy.

Solo Northern Traveller series The Solos are another large and busy fleet.

They are fantastic singlehanders, tuneable to differing strengths of winds and weights of crew. They are enjoying great success across the country, following their uptake by some skilled youngsters.

There are often a dozen or more competing on the lake on Tuesday evenings, with a variety of expertise and age. Despite these dinghies being ideally suited, we have yet to have a female helm in the fleet.

A strong turnout from sailors on the north-west championship circuit meant that 30 Solos competed in two races on the River Dee. Conditions were ideal – the wind started at 15 knots, dropping to 10. The big tide, as ever, made for interesting racing as it changed in speed and direction over the course.

The fleet were then treated to a late lunch courtesy of our legendary SWAGs (solo wives and girlfriends) on the club patio with the views of the Dee and Wales as backdrop for the winner’s presentation to Michael Sims from Carsington Sailing Club.

Contacts Phil Shepherd, Vice Commodore 0151 625 5579 www.wksc.org.uk Forthcoming events: Bottled Firefly Trophy 23/24th Nov Christmas series Cadet training through the winter Adult Improver Sailing through the spring/summer

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Albacores

Solos

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Don’t Let Winter Get Under Your Skin

By Tracey Locke, Serenity Clinic, West Kirby (www.serenity-clinic.co.uk) if you’ve not had a facial for a while. Don’t forget the rest of your body, either. Salon body exfoliation is a great way to keep skin supple and the massaging action can boost the lymphatic system, which can become sluggish in winter.

Advanced Treatments: Diamond Microdermabrasion provides effective resurfacing and addresses other problems such as pigmentation, scarring, lines and wrinkles. When it comes to other facial treatments: During the summer we all go sunscreen crazy, but once the nights draw in and the thermals are pulled out, many people put their skin care regimes into winter storage along with their swimsuits and sun hats.

We all add extra layers of clothing to keep out the cold in winter and your skin needs extra protection, too. Tracey Locke, lead clinician and owner of Serenity Clinic, offers some tips.

The only flakes you want to see in winter are snowflakes (and even then only on Christmas Day), so exfoliation, removing dead skin cells and hydration are key to maintaining and enhancing the condition of your skin. Not only will this improve the appearance of your complexion, it will also allow products to be absorbed more easily, thus optimising the results.

Exfoliation Homecare: Exfoliating products such as facial cleansers. Just be careful that you don’t go for one that’s too abrasive. The old adage ‘you get what you pay for’ is true in this instance and it’s worth paying a few pounds more for a branded product.

Salon Treatments: Microdermabrasion and exfoliating facial treatments are a great way to get your skin back on track

• Enzyme facials are great for removing dead skin cells, acting like a little Pac-Man • Mesotherapy exfoliates, plumps, hydrates and lifts, without requiring needles • Peels. Many peels resurface the skin by removing dead skin cells. They are also a good option if you’re worried about uneven skin tone, pigmentation or ageing.

Your therapist can advise you on the best peel for your needs, but as a rule of thumb: pumpkin and AHA peels are particularly effective.

Hydration Homecare: Moisturise effectively! Our skin is as individual as our fingerprints and ‘one size doesn’t fit all’. It’s also important to remember that your skin changes.

You don’t wear the same clothes at 40 as you did at 20, but many of us still use the same moisturiser. It’s worth asking a professional to recommend a product to suit ‘your’ skin. Also, ensure you have SPF protection as UV rays still dry your skin, even when it’s overcast.

Don’t forget the most simple, but vital, product: water. If you stay hydrated on the inside, your skin will reflect it on the outside.

Salon Treatments: Hydrating facials will give your skin a real boost. Your therapist can advise you, but look for therapies that provide antioxidants and vitamin C. Advanced Treatments: Facials and peels containing Hyaluronic acid, AHA, antioxidants and vitamins will assist hydration and protect the skin. CACI’s Ultimate Facial with Hydratone mask produces great results.

Other advanced treatments include: • Micro-Needling and Dermal Rollering infuse vital vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and Hyaluronic acid deeper into the epidermis, boosting water content and protecting the skin.

• Light Therapy is highly effective. It also offers the added benefits of anti-ageing and combats the effects of S.A.D.

Party Season Perfection Quick tips to look great • Shellac or gel nails last for weeks so you don’t have to worry.

• Semi-Permanent Lashes: Save time and look wide-awake (even with a hangover).

• Brow and lash tints ensure no smudged mascara/brows.

Consider semi-permanent make-up for a long-lasting solution.

• Hair Removal: Waxing, threading, electrolysis or IPL and laser… who’s got time to constantly shave?

• Tanning. We all feel better with a tan. Just don’t opt for orange!

14 The Lake

Wirral Potters Christmas Craft Evening Friends of Meols Park

Craft Evening

Wirral Potters Exhibition Wirral Potters have held regular exhibitions of their work since 1973. They are a group of 18 local potters, all of whom have received Art School training. They hold a regular two-week Spring Exhibition at Ness Gardens and a large sale of pots before Christmas. From November 23rd for two weeks there will be hundreds of

pots for sale in Heswall Library beautifully thrown stoneware for the table and kitchen, lamps, vases, plant holders as well as small decorative objects including jewellery - unique ideas for Christmas gifts.

Website: www.wirralpotters.com

Ladies! Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? Would you like to buy your friends and family unique gifts made by local craftspeople? Then Hoylake Evangelical Church’s Christmas Craft Evening might just be for you!

We are inviting all ladies to come and join us on Thursday 21 November at 7.30pm at the Parade, Hoyle Road, Hoylake. There will be an opportunity to buy crafts from local craft makers, to enjoy refreshments, to hear a short Christmas talk and to take time out with friends to simply just relax into Christmas. The event is free and all ladies are welcome.

Everyone is welcome to join us for our other Christmas events at the Parade too: Carol Service 10.30am on Sunday 22 December Christmas Eve Carol Service 8pm on Tuesday 24 December.

We would love to see you!

at Christmas

Visit our exhibition of pots for sale made by 18 potters from around Wirral.

A wonderful variety – hundreds of pots Heswall Library 23 November – 7 December 2013 Open library hours

Wirral West MP Esther McVey and members of the Wirral Skip-Felag Viking Re-enactment Group share Groundwork’s ‘Make Tomorrow Different’ message The event at the weekend was also a chance to explain and explore the Wirral’s Viking heritage, with re-enactors showing how the Norsemen lived, fought and played.

Spokesman Roy Shuttleworth said: “What a great weekend with a fabulous turnout, some of the young children had very inquisitive minds when asking questions to the Vikings, like “Are you really 1,000 years old”...

They were at a celebration event held by the Friends of Meols Park to mark the fantastic work the group has done to restore and improve their local playground.

The Friends were helped with initial Community Spaces funding and were then successful in obtaining a Celebrate Your Space grant to hold an event to show off what they had achieved.

“how do you keep your food fresh without a fridge”, and ” Is that a real Viking baby” ...hilarious!

History lesson: The Vikings first arrived in Wirral in around 902AD and quickly developed many settlements throughout the area. There are many clues to the Viking connection in the landscape, in place names and in the DNA of local people. So now you know.

The Lake 15

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16 The Lake

Unsinkable RMS Titanic and RLGC

By Bob Chadwick

RMS Titanic

J Bruce Ismay

Over 100 years ago, just before midnight on 14 April 1912, the RMS Titanic, in the middle of the Atlantic and on her maiden voyage, hit an iceberg and sank within three hours. Of around 2,200 people on board only 700 were saved.

Titanic was built in Belfast and sailed from Southampton, picking up some extra passengers at Cherbourg and Cork before setting course for New York. So what, I hear you ask, is the local or golfing connection to the 900 feet long ‘Wonder Ship’? Well, the answer to the first part of the question is that the ship was owned by a Liverpool shipping company, White Star Line, and the Managing Director was Joseph Bruce Ismay who lived in Thurstaston. The answer to the second part is that Joseph’s brother, James, was a member of Royal Liverpool Golf Club from 1892 to 1903.

The Ismay family had been in shipping for two generations. The brothers’ grandfather had founded a shipping business called Ismay, Imrie and Co., and their father, Thomas Ismay, established White Star Line.

Bruce Ismay took over as Chairman on his father’s death in 1899.

Before considering the younger Ismay brothers, it is worth noting that Thomas Ismay had a very significant effect on our local Wirral landscape. Having grown up in Crosby he moved in the 1860s to Thurstaston and had a large mansion, Dawpool, built in lower Thurstaston village.

As the local landowner he decided that he wanted an uninterrupted view of the Dee estuary and the Welsh hills - and who could blame him? So Mr Ismay simply had the main Hoylake to Chester road (now known as the A54O) diverted. The scheme created the Thurstaston cutting and took the road

via the ‘Heswall bends’ along the top of the West Wirral ridge instead of much nearer the shore and through the original village of Lower Heswall. And so, the not inconsiderable township of Heswall, where many of our members live, came to be developed and based on the top of the hill rather than on the riverside. The Dawpool mansion itself was demolished in 1927 and a small number of still significant houses were built on its wooded Thurstaston hillside site.

J Bruce Ismay had ambitions for White Star Line and, having already travelled widely as a young man, he had connections in the wider world of shipping. He agreed in 1902 to sell White Star to an already fabulously wealthy American railroad owner, J P Morgan, whose financial interests survive to this day in the shape of the bank that bears his name. With the extra financial backing, Ismay set out to expand White Star to try to compete with Cunard, Britain’s leading passenger ship operator. In the late 1900s he arranged the building of three new super liners to ply the North Atlantic passenger route. Titanic was the second of these ships to see service.

The Titanic disaster became a personal tragedy for Bruce Ismay. He was on the maiden voyage of the ship but did not

perish. Instead he fled in one of the all too few lifeboats and was the subject of much comment and criticism for not staying behind and going down with his ship, as did the Captain, Edward Smith. Ismay lost his place in society and became something of a pariah despite doing his best in ‘retribution’ by giving large sums of money to charity throughout the rest of his life.

Younger brother and RLGC member, James Ismay, originally joined the family shipping business but, apparently because of poor health, he retired in 1902 aged just 35 - so when Titanic went down he had not been part of White Star for a decade.

Instead James had moved to Dorset, near Blandford Forum, and become a noted agriculturalist. On his death in 1930, seven years before his elder brother, a substantial obituary appeared in The Times. Amongst his many achievements were the offices of High Sherriff of Dorset and President of the Dairy Shorthorn Association.

Wonderful, isn’t it, how a little research of the RLGC Club archives can take us up such interesting and unexpected avenues?

Less wonderful is the fact that, these days, I find most putts under six feet to be...

Unsinkable.

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The Little Deli was opened April 2012 by local resident Sarah Johnson Since then we’ve been busy talking to a wide range of local farmers, bakers and suppliers, sourcing the very best bread, meat, eggs and preserves from around our region. We also have a broad range of cheeses, many from award-winning producers and – being a Deli – you can try before you buy.

You will also find a wide variety of mouth-watering international flavours on our well-stocked shelves.

Sarah and her friendly staff, Teresa, Kelly and Chelsea, can prepare freshly cut sandwiches and picnics.

Sarah’s homemade ready meals are available to take away, prices start at £2.95 and our Little Belly meals are made using a well known diet’s recipes.

We also offer a comprehensive outside catering service to suit all occasions.

Our bespoke hampers make ideal Christmas gifts and can be tailor made for any member of the family, Prices start from £10.00.

We even make cheese hampers which are very popular.

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Fresh Roast Chickens available daily £5.75 seasoned to your liking.

The Little Deli, 42a Market St, Hoylake CH47 2AF. Tel: 0151 345 5510

Hoylake’s award-winning Cookshop Jill’s lifetime love of cooking and many years’ experience in the catering industry led to her open the shop in April this year. Since then Jill and her staff have been delighted to see visitors from all corners of the globe.

In October, after being kindly nominated by suppliers, we were delighted to win ‘Most Promising Newcomer’ at the prestigious Excellence in Housewares Awards 2013.

The shop is filled with quality cookware, bakeware, and utensils coupled with some fun items and nice Christmas gifts. You can browse to your heart’s content amongst all our latest product ranges and we will be only too happy to provide help and advice.

We have a new range of Le Creuset™ cookware and following The Great British Bake Off we have Mason Cash™ mixing bowls, ‘The Cake Lifter’, T&G™ rolling pins and a good assortment of Alan Silverwood™ baking tins.

Additional gift ideas include lovely new soup mugs and ‘The Mighty Mug™’ which is new invention of a mug designed so that you can’t knock it over easily – great for anyone who has a computer. We also have lots of stocking filler ideas, pottery from Spain and some lovely white bone china mugs from Repeat Repeat.

All you have to do is come and see us...

16 Market Street, Hoylake CH47 2AE. Tel no: 0151 632 1177 • Email: jill@jillscookshop.co.uk www.jillscookshop.co.uk

18 The Lake

Hoylake Police Station Heather Chapman has sent us this cutting from West Kirby News in 1938 about the opening of the new Hoylake Police Station in Queens Road.

It makes interesting reading in view of the uncertainty of its future.

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West Kirby Museum Latest news

By Christine Longworth

Now open every Saturday from 10am–1pm

World War I display

Museum interior

During the summer holiday the museum was open every Friday with visitors coming from all over Wirral and further afield, including North Wales, Cambridge, Gateshead and London. We have also been delighted to welcome visitors from Europe, New Zealand and USA. This positive response to our opening few months has been much more than we had anticipated.

Opening weekend visitors

The newly refurbished museum opened with a weekend of celebrations on 13th and 14th July 2013. It is situated in St Bridget’s Centre next to St Bridget’s Church, St Bridget’s Lane, West Kirby. The whole of St Bridget’s Centre was buzzing with activities and we recorded nearly 900 visitors over the course of the weekend.

The museum was very busy in early September with two local events: Wirral Heritage Open Days and Earth Fest at St Bridget’s. Wirral Heritage Open Days is part of a yearly national event which offers free access to properties, some of which are normally closed to the public. The publicity for this event brought new visitors to the museum. Earth Fest was a special event organised by St Bridget’s Church. The museum was invited to take part in the event and this resulted in many people calling into the museum as part of their visit to West Kirby.

We are keeping a note of the number of visitors to the museum since the relaunch and this is now close to 2,000. The comments in our Visitors’ Book are extremely complimentary about the detail of information and the method of displaying the collection. We are hoping to purchase a new display case in the near future to enable us to create temporary exhibitions.

We have a dedicated team of volunteers from our Friends group who help us to open the museum on a regular basis.

More helpers are always welcome. We are delighted to announce that from 23rd November the museum will be open every Saturday from 10am to 1pm. Please note that we will not be open on Saturday 28th December. We are most grateful to the St Bridget’s Centre Management Committee for approving our application to open weekly.

Keep up to date by logging on to our website www.westkirbymuseum.co.uk to find details about opening times and special events. There is also information about joining the Friends group.

In addition to the two new museum rooms, the weekend also featured temporary displays about old West Kirby, assembled by the Museum Research Group. This group meets weekly and frequently prepares displays for special museum events in the Centre. They are currently developing an exhibition featuring the local connection with World War I and the latest research was displayed on 9th November for Remembrance Day. Other events at the opening weekend included a mock-up of a Time Team dig in the nearby field, a Viking replica boat and Viking herbal remedies and handicrafts, learning about pottery from excavations and guided walks of old West Kirby village.

Viking herbs and handicrafts

20 The Lake

The Royal Hotel, Hoylake 1792 – 1957

By Joe Pinnington “What a ghastly building”, retorted Peter Alliss as he walked in the direction of the 18th tee. He made this remark during the week of the Open Championship in 1956. I accept that time does play tricks with the memory, and appreciating I was only ten years old at the time, I am still convinced he uttered those words about The Royal Hotel.

In truth it was a ghastly building. Within a year it was to be razed to the ground and the housing complex we see today would rise from its ashes. But the history of the building – ah, what a history...

It was the first Clubhouse of the Liverpool Golf Club in 1869 (Royal followed in 1871).

The parties they had, the revelries and friendship, the characters from the local community! If ever a building had witnessed life this was it. But how on earth was this relic of the past situated in such a place?

I shall endeavour to unravel the secrets of this pre-Victorian pile.

In 1792, Sir John Stanley built the hotel hoping to attract holidaymakers to the new fad of sea bathing, which had become most popular on the South coast of England.

His reason for choosing this location, apart from owning the land, was that we were in the middle of the Napoleonic wars and Hoylake was thought less likely to witness conflict from advancing hostile foreigners.

The roads in the early nineteenth century “were of frightful ruggedness”, according to Anna Seward of Litchfield who experienced the journey from Parkgate.

However she must have enjoyed her stay as she returned three years later.

The setting in those far off days was spectacular. A long lawn sloping down to the sea, a sea uncontaminated and most suitable for bathing. This was the setting JMW Turner, the great artist, used as inspiration for his sunsets. Oh! And what sunsets. Witness them for yourself.

They’re still there.

The bliss of those long summer days was interrupted somewhat by the introduction of a golf links on the warren, a warren sometimes used as a horse racing track. The golfers were a determined lot; progress was swift. How they negotiated the agreement with the landlord, John Ball Senior, (father of the great golfer), is not recorded but a room was set aside for the members. I believe it is best to quote from Guy Farrer’s wonderful book about the club, published in 1933.

The first mention was on 3rd July 1869 when: “The Secretary was authorised to get boxes made for storing clubs and have them placed round the room engaged at the Royal Hotel, according to plans and estimates.”

In the picture of the hotel, the clubroom is the one to the right of the porch. The members used the dining room for meals.

There was obviously a conflict between these wealthy Liverpool merchants and the local fishermen. A working relationship was established, probably helped by the reverence and adoration the blue jerseyed fishermen held for the golfing skills of Johnny Ball. “The greatest Roman of them all.”

The club now established: “There was great fun in the musical evenings in the bar parlour of the Royal Hotel. Bar parlour sounds quite ominous, but I never remember seeing a man in it who could not talk straight, nor walk straight out of it - and some of the golfers had great voices.”

A certain RW (Pendulum) Brown sang the Farmers Boy whilst Thosper (Thomas Owen Potter) The Hon. Secretary conducted with a beautiful ivory baton, now the Captain’s Wand of Office.

Matches were arranged for large sums of money during these evenings. John Ball Senior, the owner of the hotel, made his universal challenge that “me and my son will play any two”, a challenge that was seldom accepted.

On one occasion, the aforementioned Pendulum Brown backed himself to play the five holes round the out of bounds field, ‘the Circus’, in certain figures at dead of night. Not only did he win his bet but accomplished those holes in fewer strokes than he took the next day in broad daylight.

Alec Sinclair was a great humorist and George Dunlop was regarded as the best of after-dinner speech makers. Both Alec and George became Captains of the Club. As for dear old Pendulum, he did not make the Captaincy. Perhaps something can be read into his nickname, that is all I can presume.

From the long sloping lawn, members for a wager would play a shot over the hotel onto the Home green (now the 17th) to see who could hit it closest to the flag. Legend has it that Harold Hilton was an expert at such a challenge, but more on that subject at a later date.

John Ball senior was not impressed with this activity, as the less skilful member would thin the ball into the hotel. He did not hold back from reprimanding the offender.

When Johnny Ball won the Open in 1890 he was not only the first Englishman, but also the first amateur to win the championship.

On his way home by train, word spread that there was a large welcoming party at Hoylake station. Some members were waiting for him together with a great gathering of the local fishermen who had a cart minus the horse ready to ride him home. Johnny, who loathed attention, alighted from the train before it arrived at Hoylake and walked home to The Royal Hotel along the shore. Climbing up the long lawn he was met by his father who proudly ushered him into the hotel. One can presume that Johnny did not carry the Claret Jug but packed it in his suitcase.

With the benefit of hindsight and a little imagination, one can say that the first sight of the Claret Jug outside Scotland was in The Royal Hotel, where it remained for 12 months. Two years later Harold Hilton won the Open again. I presume the Claret Jug was on display in The Royal Hotel.

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senior former England Cricket captain, told me that in the 1940s players would climb under the fence at the 17th and nip into the hotel for a pint of draught beer. The club only sold bottled beer at the time.

An agreement was eventually signed in 1879 between Mr John Ball and the club and an extension was built, a single storey that can be seen at the far end of the building. The sum of £50 per annum was charged. In return the club stipulated their requirements including that “Mr Ball shall provide one thoroughly competent, efficient man servant to attend to the wants and requirements of the members of the said club”. Rather strong language but with the Victorians there was little chance of misunderstanding them. In the plan attached one will notice that there was no particular interest in washing facilities.

This agreement lasted for 15 years but when the lease had expired and the club had grown to such dimensions, further expansion was necessary, and a move was considered. The move to the present clubhouse took place in 1895. At the same time the lease of the links was also renegotiated with Lord Stanley. He must have been a busy man as he was at this time Governor General of Canada. As a by the by, he gave his name to the Stanley Cup, the Ice Hockey competition still played for in North America.

This was one of the major events in the club’s history. Was the move a natural progression? Was it forced by the demands of John Ball Senior?

There is little doubt that the club was expanding and a move would inevitably take place. However, John Ball Senior was a hard man. He also had a great ally in Thomas Owen Potter who lived at the Hotel and of course was the Honorary Secretary up until the move.

Were his demands over zealous or was it a case of just pushing the members a little too hard? We shall probably never know.

Life after golf The hotel still had another 60 years of trading. John Ball Senior died in 1902. His son Johnny the great golfer and daughter Elizabeth took charge, but Elizabeth died in 1913 and Johnny married his housekeeper Nellie and went to live in Wales.

The Royal Hotel very nearly housed Royalty. In 1929 King George V was strongly advised to spend more time by the sea due to an asthmatic condition. Hoylake was recommended but the Court at the time thought that Bognor in Sussex would be better suited for its proximity to London, consequently it was awarded the suffix of Regis. Pity, What an address; The Royal Hotel, Hoylake Regis. Marvellous. Eh? The hotel survived as a public house, selling fine draught ale and from all reports was open all hours. Ken Cranston the

Between the bar and the lounge bar was a huge fire servicing both rooms. A great arch housed the fireplace. It was about five feet high and one could see through to the other room. For a wager the more daring customer would dive through the flames and somersault into the other room, often interrupting a conversation as he fell to ground. Picking himself up he made his apologies. Explained that to accomplish the bet he had to make the return journey and promptly disappeared through the flames once more and out of sight.

Haunted? Was the Royal Hotel haunted?

Well of course it was. In the years before the hotel closed, a number of staff reported that a man dressed in a brown Norfolk jacket, knickerbockers and a tweed cap had been seen walking down the corridor from the hall to the ballroom, then vanishing.

When mounting the main staircase of the present clubhouse, cast an eye upwards and see for yourself if there is a resemblance with the portrait of John Ball.

I am only grateful that the place was knocked down before I started calling at the Green Lodge a number of years later!

Or am I? We must be grateful that the club had a natural home to walk into. Without that, perhaps the club with all the travelling difficulties would not have flourished so quickly. What effects would that have had on the development of golf in England?

One final thought. On that summer evening if you are playing to the 17th green, look over the houses to your right in the direction of the sea and witness for yourself the setting sun, gently disappearing over the sloping lawn of the Royal Hotel.

My photography by Marianthi Lainas I am a professional landscape photographer based in Hoylake. I have lived in Wirral for most of my life and draw most of the inspiration for my photographic work from our wonderful coastline here in the North West, where I find there is always something new to discover. For me, photography is a great way of getting closer to our local landscape and connecting to nature and I hope to show some of those moments where the elements of nature combine to produce something special.

Although we live on a relatively small peninsula, we have miles of coastline, views over to the Welsh Hills and the iconic Liverpool skyline - all great subjects for any landscape photographer. Our dramatic west coast skies are some of the best in the UK and I’m lucky enough to live a stone’s throw from the beach in Hoylake and can see the weather fronts and changes of light as they happen.

Last year I was delighted to be awarded the title of Photographer of the Year 2012 in a national competition run by Practical Photography and Digital Photo magazines and I regularly exhibit and sell my work at local art fairs and festivals.

My images are used on local calendars and greetings cards and I’ve produced two local calendars for 2014, ‘Love West Kirby’ and ‘Love Hoylake’. Both calendars are on sale in local shops and a donation from sales will be made to The Stanley Special School and The Friends of Hoylake & Meols in Bloom.

I also run practical photography workshops, either on a one-to-one or group basis, for anyone interested in learning more about landscape photography or who wants to learn how get their camera off ‘auto’ setting.

You can see more of my images, events listings and workshop dates on my website: www.openspaceimages.com

Hilbre Summer

Dee Boat

Boat Detail

Stormlight

Fisherman

Two Boats

The Wave

24 The Lake

Wirral Smugglers Documentary Filmed by Dave Smith

By Gavin Chappell Back in 2009, my book Wirral Smugglers, Wreckers and Pirates was published by Countyvise Ltd. I’d written it a few years before after being shown round the Smugglers’ Cave in Heswall during an Open Day. This had sparked an interest in smugglers in Wirral of yore, but I’d searched local libraries for a book on the subject in vain. Eventually I tracked down enough information in various local history books to get an idea of the period – Mother Redcap and her smugglers’ inn, smugglers’ tunnels, smuggling in Parkgate, wrecking on the North Wirral Coast, even the adventures of Wirral pirates in the Mediterranean. Since no one had written a book wholly dedicated to the subject, I thought maybe it was time someone did. I was out of work back then, and I could spend much of my time researching and writing the manuscript, and soon found a publisher in Countyvise, a Birkenhead-based publishing company specialising in local history. The book sold well, I was asked to give talks on the subject, and elements of the book were even used by re-enactors at the Mersey Pirate Muster, New Brighton, 2011. It occurred to me that there was scope for a documentary on the subject, but the few filmmakers I knew didn’t seem interested.

While working at Calday Grange Grammar School, I met Dave Smith, who had long been interested in filmmaking and scriptwriting.

When I mentioned the evening classes in creative writing that I taught at Birkenhead Sixth Form College, he asked to join, and not long after learning how to write scripts and screenplays he went on to direct and film music videos for local bands and even went to Madagascar to do a documentary for the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Back

Gavin Chappell before the cameras

in the winter of this year, shortly after his return from Madagascar, he told me that he was looking for the subject of his next documentary. I made a suggestion that a worthwhile topic could be found without going to the ends of the earth…

Dave leapt at the chance to film a documentary based on my book, and we spent many productive hours planning the film. We decided to focus entirely on smugglers, keeping wreckers and pirates for future documentaries, should this one prove a success. To give ourselves a target, we resolved to plan, film and produce the documentary in time to enter it for the Wirral International Film Festival this November. We developed a script and storyboarded a series of scenes that interspersed dramatic sequences among my own narration. We then made an abortive attempt to film the first few scenes outside Mother Redcap’s Nursing Home in Egremont, (built on the site of Mother Redcap’s tavern, the centre of smuggling in Wirral).

This was in March, during a cold spell, and I was frozen stiff, not to mention I found it difficult to talk naturally in front of a camera, despite my previous experience of teaching and giving talks.

Parkgate from afar

We contacted a few actors willing to appear in the dramatic sequences, but had no idea of where we could find them costumes.

Having no budget to speak of caused problems. We discussed filming on council property with Wirral Borough Council, only to discover that we would need public liability insurance at a price that was far beyond our means.

The solution was to film much of the documentary in front of a green screen, much as fantasy films are produced these days, and map onto the background still photos of the locations. This also meant that my narration scenes were more successful since they were carried out inside a nice warm studio. The first filming was done in mid-April at TGL, down by the Wallasey Docks, an organisation run (in a strange irony) by Peter Warren, who many years previously had built Mother Redcap’s Nursing Home. Later we saved up our pennies and bought our own green screen.

Next came a series of photographic shoots across Wirral to provide backgrounds for the filming. Dave had been using and developing his skill in HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography, coupled with a motorised rail to create time lapse imagery, a technique becoming ever more popular in the photographic world. The photography was carried out in the balmy sun of May and June. Things seemed to be looking up, but the dramatic sequences still needed to be filmed, and we had no costumes.

In June I had a call from the New Brighton Heritage Centre, whose scheduled speaker had dropped out due to other commitments.

They asked me if I could give a talk at short notice, so I obliged. On the way back to the station after the talk, it occurred to me to pop into Literally, the independent bookshop recently opened by Cathy ‘Tugboat Cath’ Roberts. She was an organiser of the Mersey Pirate Muster who had contacted me back in 2010 for information about local piracy.

The Lake 25

In the meantime, Dave met a local group of singers called the Port Sunlight Sea Dogs who he suggested we feature in the documentary. Again due to lack of budget we needed the song they would sing to be out of copyright, but the Sea Dogs had their own requirements and Kipling’s Smugglers’ Song, which I suggested, wasn’t suitable for them. We are still discussing which song will work…

Mother Redcap’s Tavern

I told her all about the project and she said she knew people who could provide costumes. She also gave invaluable advice; for example, the fact that the law forbids any actor to so much as hold a gun, even a musket, without having a gun licence. Since the documentary is to include a scene where musket-bearing customs men massacre smugglers’ wives, this posed problems. Cath suggested we approach military re-enactors who would have the necessary gun licences.

difficult. With very little to do until we got hold of them, we lost some momentum.

Would we make the film in time for the Wirral Film Festival? Everything hung in the balance.

But at the time of writing, things are looking brighter. I’ve been contacted by Tugboat Cath, who says the costumes will be available sometime this week. Will we be able to organise the actors, arrange the scenes, film them, complete the whole business of editing the film and soundtrack, and make our deadline for next month’s Wirral Film Festival? We’ll see…

Photos provided by Dave Smith Gavin Chappell lives in West Kirby. After studying English at the University of Wales, he has since worked variously as a business analyst and a college lecturer. He is the author of numerous short stories, articles, poems and several books.

In August, a group of re-enactors calling themselves HM 22nd Regiment of Foot did a show at Fort Perch Rock (appearing as soldiers defending the Fort from an attack by Mother Redcap and her merry smugglers!).

I popped down and had a chat with one of the re-enactors, Ed Wilson, who agreed to appear in the documentary with a couple of his colleagues.

Meanwhile, however, we were still having trouble getting hold of costumes. Tugboat Cath’s re-enactor friend who could provide them seemed to be permanently unavailable, and as a result getting the costumes was

Dave Smith in the studio at TGL

26 The Lake

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28 The Lake

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30 The Lake

Supporting Claire House

Sally Johnson

Local law firm Lees Solicitors, with offices across the Wirral in Birkenhead, Heswall and West Kirby, have recently raised around £3,000 for Claire House.

Lees teamed up with Claire House and took part in their ever popular ‘Make a Will Month’ earlier this year, inviting clients old and new to write a simple Will or amend a current Will free of charge, in exchange for a donation to the charity.

Sally Johnson from Lees Solicitors LLP says: “Making a Will is a very simple and practical way to prepare for the future, and whilst doing this our clients have helped us support Claire House. Funds raised will allow the team to create a bright future for the children and young people who access the hospice. As a company we are very keen to support Claire House as a local charity providing an amazing service.”

Giorgia Pizzuto, Trust Fundraiser at Claire House commented: “We are extremely grateful for the continued support from Lees Solicitors helping us to raise the vital funds needed to provide care. £3,000 will fund three months of Music Therapy for the young people and children at Claire House to enjoy.”

If you’d like any more information or help in preparing a Will then give Lees a call on 0800 387 927 or log on to www.lees.co.uk They have local offices in West Kirby, Birkenhead and Heswall.

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Awarding Night for Local NHS Heroes Caring staff from Wirral University Teaching Hospital have been thanked for their hard work and commitment at the Trust’s annual awards ceremony. Over 750 colleagues swapped their nursing and hospital uniforms for evening dresses and formal ties as part of the 2013 Foundation Awards held at the Floral Pavilion Theatre in New Brighton. The event, now in its seventh year, is a key date in the calendar for one of Wirral’s largest employers as award nominations are made by fellow working colleagues as well as patients and members of the public. Michael Carr is Chairman of the Trust. He said: “It is always a pleasure

to recognise nominated colleagues at our annual Foundation Awards. These awards are our way of saying a heartfelt thank you for the continued hard work, dedication and commitment that is shown day in, day out in our hospitals.”

A total of 21 awards were handed out to teams and individuals on the night. Host for the event was Pauline Daniels. The local comedienne brought applause, cheers and the odd tear to the audience when reading out winning nominations and how staff went beyond their duties when delivering the best possible care to patients, often under extremely challenging conditions.

‘Outstanding Contribution to Volunteering’ Winner – Ben Darby

‘Treating You Well’ Team Award Winner – Accident and Emergency Team

32 The Lake Cut out and keep this advert to receive reduced selling commission rates. Expires 31st December 2013.

Hoylake Lawn Tennis Club ends centenary season in historic style Hoylake Tennis Club has had a great many reasons to celebrate in 2013. Not only did the popular Wirral club mark its 100th anniversary with an official lunch, tour and opportunity to play on the outside courts at Wimbledon, but the end of the playing season saw the club win a historic clutch of local championship trophies.

Hoylake LTC currently fields four teams in the Wirral Tennis Leagues. This season, each of the teams won its divisional championship – most notably Hoylake A, who won the First Division, known to be of an exceptionally high standard. The A team went on to consolidate their success by also winning the Wirral Tankard competition – essentially the Wirral League’s cup final.

As Club Captain Bob Taylor reveals, these results are an almost unheard of achievement for one club. “The centenary has definitely served to focus our efforts,” he says.

“The team players have been newly ranked this year and an enthusiastic captain appointed to each team, who also writes a brief weekly summary of their team’s matches on our website.

Growing and thriving Hoylake’s on-court’ activities are not confined to league tennis. Each year the club runs so-called ‘American’ Tournaments, Family Tournaments and a Handicap tournament, each of which allows the wider membership to play not-too-serious competitive tennis. There is also provision for informal social tennis on a specific evening every week throughout the season well as on Sunday afternoons and evenings.

HLTC sets great store on these activities through which new players become known,

HLTC’s founders). The club will conclude its centenary with a Christmas Dinner Dance at another significant local institution, the Royal Liverpool Golf Club. Quite an end to quite a year!

Tennis in Hoylake 1913-2013 Hoylake Lawn Tennis Club was formed by a group of local residents, who rented the plot of land along Meols Drive (where the Club still stands) and officially purchased it in 1935.

embryonic team players develop and players of different abilities (and from different generations) can play each other and later socialise at the bar in the clubhouse.

Junior tennis is greatly encouraged at Hoylake and the junior section is very strong. The Under 12 and Under 14s teams were both Cheshire county champions this year, reflecting their natural ability as well as the excellent coaching staff at the club.

Centenary events This year, naturally, many of HLTC’s social activities had a ‘centenary’ flavour: a centenary quiz night (events of 1913 side by side with those of 2013) and a ‘Tea-and-Tennis’ afternoon (pictured) with wooden racquets and vintage dress.

The principal social event was a formal Centenary Ball held in a marquee in the club’s grounds, the success of which matched the uniqueness of the occasion (appropriately, the current chairman, Clair Miller, is a granddaughter of one of

As its name implies, the club’s tennis was played exclusively on grass courts. Games were enjoyed by a number of prominent sports-loving families. One of the club’s early trustees was John Selwyn Lloyd.

He went on to become our local MP and later, Foreign Secretary, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Speaker of the Commons.

As the century progressed, demand for all-weather play led to the lawns’ progressive replacement by other playing surfaces.

Today, HLTC enjoys eight excellent, well-maintained artificial turf courts.

“Floodlights will shortly be installed on three courts - their official inauguration is planned for later this year – making the playing facilities second to none,” says Bob Taylor, HLTC Captain.

The clubhouse, built in 1985, replaced the original wooden one which burned down. In recent years, this has also been extensively modified and modernised and is the focus for much of the club’s social activity. The club has roughly 200 senior members and 300 juniors, making it one of the most thriving and successful clubs on the Wirral. www.hoylaketennisclub.co.uk

The Lake 33

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Make sure your car is ready for winter As we wave goodbye to the warmer autumnal weather and move towards colder temperatures, we need to ensure that our vehicles are in the best shape to cope with the freezing winter conditions.

Keeping your vehicle well maintained is important all year round, but doubly so in winter. According to the RAC, you’re 50% more likely to break down during the winter than in the summer. That’s why it’s important to check over your vehicle to ensure that it is safe and ready for the winter.

The following checks will help ensure your vehicle is ready for winter: Note: Before carrying out these checks, make sure your vehicle is cold and parked on a flat, level surface.

Car Battery - last February the RAC attended more than 50,000 batteryrelated call-outs. Remember, if your car has not been used for a period of time, the battery may need charging before you come to use it.

Coolant - ensure that coolant is between the minimum and maximum markers. It is also important that there is sufficient anti-freeze in the coolant.

If you’re uncertain, have a look at your handbook or pop in and see us to check the strength. Anti-freeze is cheap but damage from a frozen engine can be very expensive to put right.

Tyres - check tyre condition to see if there is adequate tread. Look for damage such as splits or bulges and check the pressure. In severe conditions an option may be to purchase winter tyres or snow socks which give you greater traction and control.

Screenwash - make sure you have enough screenwash and that the concentration is suitable for cold conditions. Not all screenwash is the same, so look for the temperature it protects down to. You should be looking for protection down to -10 degrees C. If you don’t use a good quality screenwash there is a danger your washer pump could freeze, which might lead to the fuse blowing and your wipers not working because they are often on the same fuse.

Wiper blades - check wiper blades for damage and replace if necessary. When wiper blades become frozen to glass it is very easy to damage them when freeing them up.

About MB-Wirral

MB-Wirral provides servicing to Mercedes-Benz schedules with no hidden costs. In addition to engine, gearbox, chassis and electronic maintenance and servicing, MB-Wirral also provides full diagnostics servicing, fault finding and analysis, flexible and reduced cost servicing for older vehicles and MOT testing.

The company also prides itself on going the extra mile through the provision of a comprehensive range of personal touches including provision of courtesy cars and collection/delivery services.

To discuss your individual requirements, please do not hesitate to contact us on 632 0006 or by email at info@mb-wirral.co.uk. Better still, drop in and see us at MB House, 39A Carsthorne Road, Hoylake Wirral CH47 4FB.

34 The Lake

Wirral Wildlife Red Knot Army

By Matt Thomas Murmuration: a low, indistinct, continuous sound, as of a stream, far-off voices, etc.

A murmuration has also come to mean the flocking together of large numbers of birds.

This it seems is due to the low, rustling, murmuring sound that many pairs of wings makes.

Any winter wildlife documentary worth its salt will include a murmuration of some kind. The classic is Starlings coming into roost as the sun sets. With many thousands in the flock they swirl like smoke across a reddening sky before they descend into some suitable habitat to huddle together until the morning light.

The other murmuration often featured is that of Knots being pushed and pulled along by a combination of rising tide and marauding predators. We are lucky that we have two sites on the Wirral where we can witness this truly awesome wildlife spectacle.

Between November and March along the muddy banks of the Dee between Thurstaston and Heswall, flocks of up to 20,000 Knot feed on shellfish and worms they find by probing the rich mudflats with their stout little bills. At Hoylake, high tide roosts can reach similar numbers, and come astonishingly close to the road, giving great views to assembled birdwatchers.

If you look in your field guide you will see that this bird is actually called a Red Knot and this might seem a little confusing as all of the 20,000 birds before you will be a pale silvery grey colour. This is because these birds will have moulted from their bright brick-red breeding colours into plumage that matches the drab greys of the estuary mud and the all too dreary winter weather.

If you read the species account in your field guide they are quite often described as “highly gregarious” or “forming into dense flocks”. This is certainly true, and you can watch these flocks form on the shore at Thurstaston and Hoylake.

You might have seen big flocks on the aforementioned winter wildlife documentaries so the sight of 10,000 birds huddling together might not come as a surprise, however, to see them in the ‘feathers’ is still more impressive than anything that can be displayed on a TV screen. What you can’t get from the TV is the sound they make when they take to the air, or the thrill of seeing the spectacle live. As they explode from mudflats into the air it sounds like ten tonnes of gravel sliding off the tipping trailer of a big lorry. Once in the air the sound changes as the flock quickly alters direction as it throws crazy shapes against the sky.

While for many, a Knot murmuration is something most likely to be experienced from an armchair, we are lucky enough to have the chance to witness it on our local patch. The story unfolds thus...

The tide creeps slowly in from your right as you look out to sea from the promenade at Hoylake. The birds are still distant but the incoming water will bring them close in time. There is still enough exposed sand and mud for the birds to feed before they are forced to roost as the tide covers their larder. They are in a loose flock, scurrying across the mud looking for food; as a whole they seem to move like a swarm of insects, but if you focus on one individual it looks like a clockwork mouse spinning across the wet mud in seemingly random directions.

Their uniform plumage makes them look like an army on the march to battle: in fact they are retreating from the flooding tide.

This tactical withdrawal brings them closer to shore and as the amount of beach diminishes the flock tightens. The birds are nervous. They have cause to be – the birdwatchers on the prom are not the only things looking at them. Knots are a favourite food of the Peregrine Falcon and with so many of them in one place these raptors are bound to take an interest.

The falcon attacks with blistering pace, an avian bullet fired at the flock. The Knots are quick to react, the flock blows up from the shore as if it has been detonated. They wheel around in what looks like a blind panic but what are, in fact, manoeuvres actually designed to confuse the Peregrine and save themselves. It might be an awesome sight but it is a moment of sheer terror for the Knots.

Once the Peregrine has caught its lunch or has given up, the flock returns to the ground and peace descends. The tide will soon start to ebb and the refreshed mudflats will reappear, allowing the Knots to disperse over the shore and resume feeding. But for those few brief minutes we have the stuff of wildlife documentary legends almost at our feet. We should all check it out if we get the chance. www.fromthemuddybanksofthedee.com

The Lake 35

Marine Conservation Society Volunteers Frank Tyson of the Marine Conservation Society Volunteers has written to The Lake after our article in September about Hilbre Island.

“In the last issue of The Lake there was a very good article by Allen Burton from the Friends of Hibre Group. There was no mention of the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) Volunteers, which isn’t surprising as we tend to keep a low profile.

“This year marked the 20th anniversary of ‘Beachwatch UK’, the Hilbre Island survey. quite possibly the longest consecutively running of its type to be found anywhere in the world. During this time we have probably removed over half a million separate items of litter from the vicinity of the islands. Our work also contributed to the European Union OSPAR Convention, one of only 13 sites in the UK to do so.

“I admired the photograph of ‘Lion Rock’ and would like to show this one (see below) which was taken at the conclusion of a survey with the litter bags on the lion’s paws.

We have named it ‘Psalm 17, Verse 12’.

‘Like a lion that is greedy of its prey, and as it were a lion’s whelp, lurking in secret places.’ Which I hope is self-explanatory should you look at the lion’s end quarters.

“The MCS Volunteers are not just active at Hilbre Island, but range between West Kirby and Dove Point, Meols, recording all forms of marine life. We have many unique records for the area, including many photographs. Only last May we found a new species of marine mollusc for the Merseyside area. At the moment we are conducting a jellyfish survey for the MCS as part of a national survey.”

36 The Lake

Art’s Magical Powers We have recently experienced that time of year again, Halloween, bonfire night, the lantern parade and all that is magical about autumn. Children love to dress up and transform themselves into myriad creatures.

So what is it that urges us to be creative, and from such an early age? Our children love the costumes, colours, face paints, and of course the explosive, vivid fireworks.

The power of our innate urge to be creative continues into adulthood, but often works at an unconscious level. We make creative choices all the time; how to decorate our homes, beautify our gardens, put our clothes together and match our shoes, etc. It has been discovered that all these creative acts have the power to affect us emotionally.

Take a painting we have on a wall for example: we choose it for several reasons, it may be a reminder of a place visited, a dreamy landscape we can lose ourselves in, a beautiful face that moves us. But when we take the time to look at it, incredible things happen to us...

A study was carried out by Professor Semir Zeki at University College, London to see what actually happens in the brain when we look at beautiful artworks and the results were extraordinary. He discovered that blood flow increases by 10% to the part of the brain that registers pleasure and desire. He said: “What we are doing is giving scientific truth to what has been known for a long time that beautiful painting make us feel much better.” (The Telegraph, May 2011).

So it seems the viewing of beautiful artworks can be beneficial and at last, the scientists have been able to prove what we already knew. That which we perceive to be beautiful, however, is another matter entirely and decidedly down to the individual.

If simply looking at a painting can have so much benefit, what about the effect of actually creating it?

Cave paintings in the Altamira Cave in Spain date back more than 40,000 years (BBC News June 2012), so clearly this desire to create is innate, and it is also universal. On the opposite side of the planet an Australian rock painting of a bird that became extinct around 40,000 years ago has been discovered (Australian Geographic, June 2010). The evidence is clear, humans have always felt the need to make images and express themselves.

Art is a powerful tool for communicating without words. Images and colours convey feelings both conscious and unconscious through use of our personal visual language. Art as ‘therapy’ is a relatively new field and was originally used within hospital and psychiatric settings. From the mid 1940s, Margaret Naumburg began writing about ‘Art Therapy’. She is frequently referred to as the ‘mother of art therapy’ by Cathy Malchiodi among others, who had their early roles in psychiatry. As a profession, art therapy has grown and is suitably recognised as a vehicle for health and healing. Making art is a basic human urge, a human trait as natural as language and social interaction.

We do not all perceive ourselves to be naturally creative or talented, but when questioned, most people recognise that they create not in obvious ways such as painting, but perhaps through knitting, gardening, baking, writing and making music. It is now widely accepted that being creative is beneficial in many ways.

Immersing ourselves in some form of creative activity can improve our health and sense of wellbeing enormously. It is known to lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and “...can make a powerful contribution to the healing process”. (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles) It can be undertaken by all ages in some form and as it can so easily be a group activity, it can reduce social isolation.

So creating art, poetry, music, etc., whether alone or in a class, can only be good for you; even the simple act of doodling can be beneficial. It is the process, the being in the moment of creating that nourishes us. Joining a class or painting at home differs from art therapy in that it is not undertaken within a therapeutic environment with a trained therapist whose role is to help the client make sense of their creation. Yet creativity is there for us all to enjoy and benefit from.

As George Bernard Shaw said: “We do not stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”

By Jo Smith, Seagrass Studio Gallery

The Lake 37

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

Much happens in the working life of an auctioneer and in the fast-moving world of the internet. In the trend-driven markets of today we all have to keep up with the modern world. Perhaps that is why old objects are required in a home, as they give the impression of a state of permanence, whatever that is, as there is nothing so permanent as change!

Anyway, in pursuit of permanence, I set off to visit an old friend of mine in Chester, Steve Baron, who owns and runs a fine art and picture gallery in Watergate Street. On my way I stopped in Newgate Street to locate the former home of Walter Crane of the well-known pre-Raphaelite movement. Learning about pictures is quite hard for many people; certainly a long period of learning is required of auctioneers. Forecasting the future desirability of works and the upward movement of prices is difficult, but generally it is governed by the value of our homes and how affluent we feel.

Again, Baron Fine Arts has a similar example, albeit slightly larger, priced at £450. Many of Dianne Flynn’s larger pictures bring several thousand pounds nowadays. If you are viewing commercial art exhibitions and want to buy a picture, always take advice first and try to afford the best picture in the show. You, or the next generation, will probably then achieve a good return if you sell in the future.

Small Hebrew Prayer Book

C18th Chinese Vase 24” high

Racing Yachts by Ronald Mitchell

Baron Fine Arts holds a vast stock of pictures.

Racing Yachts off the South Coast (illustrated) is by the hand of Ronald Charles Mitchell, who was born in Hull in 1960. He is a member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists in London and has exhibited widely. This particular picture, priced at £4,950, is a good size – 50”x30” – and is well suited to property in a maritime area. A smaller example in a gallery in Yorkshire is currently priced at £6,500. His uncle, William Frederic Mitchell, also achieved fame as a painter of ships.

Buying at auction is preferable, price-wise, but again, do your research well and ask the advice of an experienced authority before you part with hard-earned cash.

Now to the discoveries locally. I have recently undertaken three valuation days at the Claire House charity shop in Irby. Interesting items and nice people attended. One person came in with two coins dug up some years ago in the garden of a house in the Wirral. They were two Charles I shillings. They will bring £200-£400 at auction soon as they are in excellent condition. We are also expecting £15,000 for seven large white £50 notes from the 1920s, and hopefully another delighted vendor.

Now we all hear that oriental art is rising in price – and it is. Last auction we achieved £600 for three worn Chinese embroidered panels, estimated at £150-£200 as they needed cleaning and restoring.

By Dianne Flynn

The second picture I have illustrated was sold at auction by Cato Crane Fine Art Auctioneers in Liverpool last month, and is by the hand of Dianne Elizabeth Flynn. Dianne Flynn was born in 1939 and her works are much after by sought by collectors. This small picture – just 7”x5” – has a ‘must own’ appeal, because the clarity of the medium gives it an almost luminescent quality.

seems to have lost popularity; however, if you happen to have light-coloured Ercol or Gordon Russell designed furniture it will sell well. The cabinet, table and chairs illustrated cost in excess of £4,000 some ten years ago. They are of good quality and the right colour – that is to say they are not ‘gloomy’ – and are now available in our auction rooms at a most affordable price. Let me know if you have a use for them and I can quickly arrange a sale.

Well-priced furniture for sale

So where are the million pound plus 17th and 18th century vases hiding? They do come to light occasionally and there will be some, totally undiscovered, being used as doorstops, umbrella stands, or hidden away in the back of kitchen cupboards. Some crackled glazed examples look nondescript and are often overlooked. If you think you might have an interesting oriental vase, then please telephone me and I will come to see it.

Recently I attended an exhibition of Michael McCartney’s celebrity photographs, which were on show at the Inkwell Tattoo Studios in Oxton.

Now there’s a thought! If you fancy an exquisite, original work of art to have with you always, perhaps it might be worth a visit… and what’s more, those fine works of art would be a bit difficult to mislay! All proceeds from the evening were in aid of Claire House.

Some items have interesting stories attached to them and a tiny, handwritten book in Hebrew on parchment was discovered in a cave in Iran.

It appears to have great age and I’ve just started to undertake research for the client – I’ll report more in my next article.

In January, Cato Crane is holding a special antiques evening at a Wirral venue. Details from me please.

Over the last few months it appears that good pictures, silver and jewellery are once again rising in value. Furniture, on the other hand, has to be exceptionally fine quality to command high prices. Furniture from dark-coloured woods

I am always interested in appraising fine quality items and Beatles memorabilia which are potentially for sale, so please give me a call on 07836 209995 or Anna at my auction rooms on 0151 709 5559 and I will be pleased to visit you for a chat and a cup of tea!

38 The Lake

C’est Chouette French for Children

By Barbara Gleave

‘Chouette French’ is a new and exciting local venture offering out-of-school French classes for children from 18 months to 11 years. It is run by Barbara Gleave, a well-qualified and experienced teacher of Primary French who lives in West Kirby.

“I chose the name ‘Chouette’ (shweht) for my children’s French groups because of its double meaning,” Barbara explains. “First, ‘une chouette’ is an owl. Second, ‘chouette’ is an adjective meaning great or super, so the phrase ‘C’est chouette!’ means ‘It’s great!’ and it’s my intention for children to agree that learning French in this way is great fun.”

The children who attended the free taster session in Birkenhead children’s library at half-term were certainly proud of this achievement. They also sang songs, chanted a finger rhyme, counted up to 10, played a game, learned some animals names and tried on masks to become un singe and un panda.

After-school classes start at the library in mid November, and sessions are also planned for West Kirby, Heswall, Greasby and Hoylake.

Barbara has a good stock of real French children’s books and was delighted to find a picture book called Chouette, pas chouette! in a Limoges bookshop this summer. So simple is the text that children can read the entire book in their very first French session!

Young children quickly absorb a foreign language and begin to use frequently used phrases in very natural way. Two-year-old Benjamin comes to Parent and Tot sessions with his granddad. He’s as happy to count to 10 in French as in English and after watching

dolls and teddies act out Boucle d’Or et les Trois Ours (Goldilocks and the Three Bears), he replayed the scenes repeating ‘Ahhh! Je me suis brûlée!’ in Goldilock’s voice as he tasted the hot porridge.

As an Advanced Skills Teacher for Primary French, Barbara spent part of her week visiting other primary schools to help them embed French into the curriculum. She was also a National Trainer for ‘Implementing the Primary Languages Entitlement’. Next year it will be a statutory requirement of Primary schools to teach a foreign language consistently and in sufficient depth so that the pupils make substantial progress over the four years of Key Stage 2.

Now she is based in Wirral, Barbara hopes that her knowledge and experience can assist local primary schools ensure that they meet the DfE’s requirements. Teaching a 3rd and 4th year of a foreign language may be daunting for the non-specialist, but there are great resources available, online support and free training, including courses abroad. “I spent two weeks in Besançon in 2001 on an intensive ‘French for Young Learners’ course,” says Barbara, “and such courses are still available.”

“I can show teachers that teaching French is not a chore; children love learning a foreign language. Forget ‘la plume de ma tante’; these days it is such fun, for the pupils and the teachers!”

If you would like your child to learn French in a fun activity group, please contact Barbara to find the nearest suitable venue for your child. Or see the website for more information.

Telephone: 0151 625 1998 Mobile: 0784 088 7368 Email: chouette.wirral@outlook.com www.barbaragleave.wix.com/chouette

The Lake 39

Local Churches this Christmas Seeing is believing A Christmas message to The Lake readers from Ray Trainer, Minister of Hoylake Evangelical Church “Seeing is believing”, we’re told, but is that true? Take, for instance, Bethlehem where Jesus was born. That town would’ve been heaving with visitors as they came flocking home to be registered in the big Roman census of that day. Also arriving was a poor couple: Mary, who was pregnant, and Joseph, her husband. However, not one of those many people within Bethlehem saw in that poor couple anything special. Why was that? Because on their minds was not the birth of God’s coming Saviour, but taxation. They would be saying: “You know what this census means? Even more money to cough up for the Romans for them to build their roads and maintain their armies!” Therefore, no one truly saw Mary and Joseph.

Now that was tragic. For far more significant than the Roman census was a different event. For there, inside a stable within that town, a young Jewish woman was cradling in her arms the Saviour of the world. Everyone missed its significance! No one could see it.

Therefore no one could believe it! It’s just like today’s world, for few see the real significance of Christmas that God’s Saviour for this world was born in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago. So this Christmas – when all others see only glitter and presents, parties and razzmatazz – will you see that God gave his only Son so that you can have peace with him? For that peace is only for those who see and believe.

Please come and join our celebrations over Christmas. We have carol services on Sunday 22 December at 6pm and Christmas Eve at 8pm at the Parade, Hoylake Community Centre. For more information call 632 3732, or visit our website: www.hoylakeevangelical.org.uk

St Andrew’s United Reformed Church, Greenwood Road, Meols December 14th 4pm-6pm Café Carols with Christmas Craft Workshops for children.

December 17th 2.30pm A Victorian Christmas with Christmas Fare and Raffle.

December 22nd 4pm Carol Service.

Christmas Eve 11.30pm Christmas Eve Service.

Christmas Day 10.30am Christmas Day Family Service.

Puppets leading Christmas Carol Service at West Kirby Methodist Church

St Andrew’s Church Meols Drive, West Kirby Sunday 22nd December 6.00pm Traditional Carol Service The Christmas story and Carols by candlelight Christmas Eve 4.30pm Christingle Candlelit children’s service at the Christmas Crib 11.30pm Midnight Mass First Communion of Christmas Christmas Day 8.00am Low Mass 10.30am Sung Mass Joyful celebration of Christmas Day with Holy Communion and Christmas Carols

Puppets will be leading the Carol Service at West Kirby Methodist Church on Sunday 15th December at 10.30am. The No Strings Puppet Ministry are back with their unique approach to church services and this time focusing on the Christmas Story.

In a service aimed at young people, the puppets will take a quirky look at the events around Christmas. With participation from the Scouts and Guides and festive songs as well as traditional carols, this is a service with something for everyone.

The Puppets’ Carol service is just one of many services which will be held at West Kirby Methodist Church during Advent and the Christmas season. Sunday morning services start at 10.30am and the season of Advent begins on the 1st December with ‘Light’ as the theme.

On December 22nd, the 4th Sunday in Advent celebrates Mary. That evening at 6.30pm there will be Carol Service and readings telling the Christmas story. Christmas Eve Communion is at 11.30pm and on Christmas Day there is a Family Service at 10.30am.

West Kirby Methodist Church is on Westbourne Road in West Kirby.

Further details about the church and its current activities are available on the church website, www.westkirbymethodist.org or by calling Graham on 07802 462 682.

40 The Lake

West Kirby Farmer’s Market Vegetarian Paradise

By Aly Challoner-Jones

Christmas is fast approaching, so where better to find delicious products to fill our celebration tables than the Farmer’s Market at St Andrew’s Church, West Kirby every 4th Saturday of the month. 9am sharp and I’ve arrived, there’s so many cars! It can’t be busy yet? I make my way down the pathway to the outside area of St Andrews.

People, everywhere... descending in droves.

I’d better get to work, talking to the veggie vendors and QUICK! First stop is Veggie Fayre, an all vegetarian and vegan stall with delicious homemade nut roasts, pies, tarts and hummus in flavours I’d never tasted!

There was beetroot hummus, and hummus with chilli. Easy to recognise with a dangerous looking chilli, leaning nonchalantly on the edge of the pot! It was good and garlicky, with heat from the chilli gradually increasing, but not so much that it overpowered the flavours. Right then, what shall I buy to try?

I took home a portion of Shepherdless Pie and reheated it for supper. Rich and flavoursome with sweet earthiness from the beetroot, topped with thick slices of potato.

A perfect dish for an autumn evening.

They have a new Christmas recipe underway, make sure you come and try some!

Hazelnut, pistachio roast with vegetables, ginger and chilli. Gluten free as well as vegan! Hmmm, where next?

Hemingway’s Pasta, a delightful couple who make a very tasty vegetarian pesto, amongst other freshly made sauces.

Thanks to their vegetarian daughter they have first-hand knowledge of what’s what!

Their business commenced life as a family necessity; kids off to uni and undoubtedly eating an array of unsuitable foods! So, Mum decided to pack them off to halls with portioned pots of sauce. Lucky students!

The sauce repertoire grew, and soon became the foundations of a business idea which is now Hemingway’s Pasta. They are regulars at West Kirby Farmer’s Market, so make your way to see them and others, but get there early!

Next up, Nourish for a selection of vegetarian and vegan pies, slices, burgers and layered lasagne! What incredible choice; cranberry pie, nut roast wellington, sweet potato and lentil balls and even a gluten free cheesy vegetable crumble. I asked what I should sample, walnut tart? Why not! I tried it just warm to enhance the flavours: walnut, cottage cheese, herbs and delicious shortcrust pastry.

Scrumptious, really enjoyed my Nourish experience. Now, I’m in the mood for something sweet. Chocolate? Yes chocolate!

Always need dessert, and mine is usually a good quality piece of chocolate. The Chocolate Cellar have just that and more, a bountiful table of bars, gift bags, truffles and ganache-filled chocolate. Now I know as well as most that chocolate is generally good for vegetarians, but this lot can pretty much all be veganised. Great for vegans, and equally so for those with a dairy intolerance.

I tasted the rose chilli chocolate, with flavours akin to chocolate-coated Turkish Delight, I was in paradise. Bale, the lovely owner of The Chocolate Cellar, can make hampers in time for Christmas, make sure you book well in advance. Bale is a regular at the market, but you can also find her on Twitter and website thechocolatecellar.co.uk Having devoured all that tasty food, I’m feeling inspired! A nut roast fit for the celebration table methinks. Here’s a recipe for a Butternut Squash, Almond and Cranberry Wellington. I’ve made individual portions, but you could just as easily make a large version.

Ingredients for 6 individual wellingtons: 1 onion, finely chopped 100g finely chopped chestnut mushrooms 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar 2 tbsp sunflower oil 450g/1lb butternut squash, seeds removed, peeled & cut into chunks 2 whole cloves garlic 110g/4oz raw cashew nuts finely chopped or processed.

100g/4oz ground almonds 1 egg 1 tsp dried sage or a few chopped fresh leaves 1/2 tsp mace 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper 1tsp ground cumin salt and pepper Good handful of baby spinach 55g/2oz dried cranberries 55g/2oz walnuts, roughly chopped 2 sheets ready rolled puff pastry 1 tbsp milk (for glazing)

Preheat oven to 200C/400F/Gas mark 6 Put the butternut squash and garlic cloves in an ovenproof dish. Roast for half an hour (leave the oven on after they’re done).

Lightly fry the onions in a little sunflower oil for 2 mins. Add the balsamic and mushrooms, cook for a further minute.

Peel the garlic and put in a bowl with the butternut squash. Add the cashews, almonds, egg, sage, spices and some salt and pepper and mash well.

Cut each sheet of pastry into 4 squares, use the spare pastry for something sweet!

Take a square of pastry and on one half layer on the spinach, onion mixture, a spoonful of the butternut squash mix, then walnuts and cranberries, more butternut squash, onion mix and spinach.

Fold over the other half of pastry to make a pillow shape.

Pinch together the edges of the pastry, and seal by pressing down with a fork.

Repeat with the remaining ingredients, and place the wellingtons on a lightly greased tray. Brush the tops with a splash of milk and cook for half an hour, middle shelf.

Serve with some freshly steamed seasonal veggies and all the trimmings! Take a look at the Absolute Cooking website for a detailed method and accompaniment suggestions. I’ve added some suitable alternatives to exclude allergens, and include meat eaters!

Visit www.absolutecooking.co.uk for advice, products and services and all things vegetarian. You’ll find links to Twitter and Facebook page, as well as a little more about the business.

Have a fabulous Christmas and see you in the New Year!

Aly Challoner-Jones Vegetarian and Vegan Consultant www.absolutecooking.co.uk

The Lake 41

Choose the right family lawyer – Collaborative Law can save you heartache and large court costs two main protagonists, but on their children and on their extended family and support network too.

Tom Fisher

Is it true what they say - that it is not the divorce itself but the way you divorce that takes the heaviest toll?

Tom Fisher, Family Solicitor at Lees Solicitors and Collaborative Lawyer certainly believes so. As well as being a member of the National Campaigning Family Law Group, Resolution, Tom is also a member of a pioneering group of solicitors across the country who are now offering a whole new way of making the break and surviving the aftermath – Collaborative Law. It is a sad fact of life, but divorce is here to stay. Most recent statistics suggest that almost half of UK marriages will end in failure. The real cost of relationship breakdown is not merely financial, although anyone who has been through the process will know how costly court battles over splitting assets can be.

The real costs are in the personal and emotional turmoil that so often accompanies the end of relationships. A bad divorce can leave lasting scars. Not just on the

Imagine though a situation in which the client sits down, together with their former partner and their respective solicitors and commit to sorting it out together. Both clients share their hopes, their aspirations, their expectations and even their fears, and the four of you work together to create an agreement with which you all agree. The clients emerge from the process ready to get on with the rest of their lives without the bitterness and unresolved anger that so often accompanies the divorce process.

The approach is called Collaborative Law, and for many couples and their children, it is proving the very best way forward.

So how does it work? To start with everyone enters a written agreement not to go to court. Lawyers who practice the collaborative approach have all the technical legal expertise you would expect. Additionally they have taken extra training in how to work collaboratively. It does take a special kind of lawyer. They are skilled and compassionate professionals who are not afraid to call in additional help – from mediators or counsellors for example – where the situation demands it.

Both clients set the agenda. They work at the pace at which they feel comfortable. They commit to full disclosure and all talk openly about the issues that matter to them.

They don’t feel as if they are being dragged helplessly along a legal conveyor belt.

Tom Fisher says: “One of the benefits is that Collaborative Law sends out remarkably positive signals to children who, research has consistently shown, benefit hugely from knowing that their parents are working out their differences together, constructively.

“It’s not an easy option: it requires the right mind set from everyone involved. But for couples for whom it is right, it provides a genuine resolution of marital breakdown and those who come out the other end report a genuine sense of wellbeing.

Many successfully remain friends with their former partners, in an atmosphere of respect and understanding which, they say, at the beginning of the process they could never have contemplated.”

Lees Family law team – a flexible service The breakdown of a relationship is upsetting enough for you and your family – it can be one of the most difficult times in your life. It can be stressful balancing your work

commitments and your child care, whilst also needing time to find the best legal advice. This is where Lees Solicitors can help. The family law team can provide you with expert, professional and sensitive legal advice at one of their offices across the Wirral, with appointments available out of hours and also on a Saturday.

Jenniffer Skillen, Head of Family Law, Collaborative Lawyer, Partner and trained Mediator, based at Lees Solicitors office at Heswall (90/92 Telegraph Road), says: “Our Heswall branch is open six days a week and allows for more flexibility to our customers, whilst Tom Fisher, Partner and a Collaborative Lawyer based at our West Kirby office (52a Grange Road) offers out of hours appointments from 5-7pm on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Sarah Fox, Chartered Legal Executive, also provides Family services from our Birkenhead office (44/45 Hamilton Square), so whatever your personal circumstances are, we aim to fit around you and your busy lifestyle.”

To get in touch with the team email family@lees.co.uk or call to arrange an appointment at an office convenient to you.

• West Kirby 0151 625 9364 • Heswall 0151 342 6273 • Birkenhead 0151 647 9381

42 The Lake

Your Correspondence Get in touch by email: jon@lakemagazine.co.uk or by post to: Jon Bion, Editor, The Lake, 42 Price Street Business Centre, Price Street, Birkenhead CH41 4JQ.

The Dog Watch National Trust land, Thurstaston, gorse heath yellow, mowed by ancient breeds of sheep.

Cool shades of pine forests echoing cries of green woodpeckers offer vistas over sun-showered Dee of Wales and distant mountains.

A natural haven for dog walkers.

Pekinese, Alsatians, hounds, terriers, collies, all left their steaming mounds to engulf the careless foot until the council solemnly decreed a mighty fine for those who did not clean it up.

So, to the letter of the law, along the path, today, you’ll find small plastic bags, all neatly tied, preserving, each, a sample that some dog has left behind.

Kept safe from beetle, worm and fly, this treasure will, I’m sure, endure the tests of tide and time for twenty years or more.

Mr V Torhanson, Frankby

Memories of RAF West Kirby I live in Essex and spent some time in the Wirral for my initial RAF training. I also spent two years in Halewoods Ford plant. Due to this I have always felt a huge affinity to these areas and the people living there. I have also just returned from the RAF reunion at Leasowe. The area has changed dramatically but not the welcoming attitude shown to me in 1955 and again in 1967.

Imagine my surprise and tremendous joy at finding your magazine online, especially the three pages in issue one regarding RAF West Kirby. I shall be looking for future publications. Thanks to you and your team. Please give my best wishes to all of your readers.

Memories of West Kirby Baths I am in my late 70s and am loving the The Lake magazine. Issue three brought back so many happy memories with Heather Chapman’s article on West Kirby baths. She omitted the ‘skinny dipping’ at night when the baths were closed, with the glow of phosphorus on the bodies!

In the 1960s we lived outside Chester with two small children and decided to move back to West Kirby and bring our children up at the baths as we had been brought up. The day we signed the contract on our new house they began to knock the baths down! There was talk of poor quality water but Hoylake Baths water was no better at that time.

They were building the town houses opposite at the time and the plans of those showed the promenade but NO baths. Obviously ‘someone’ knew long before that they were being closed but not the public. It annoyed me then and still does that they could have been updated. How wonderful it would have been if we still had them.

Margaret Shepherd, by email

Meols and Great Meols Just a small point but nevertheless an important one. In one of your earlier editions you referred to Meols as “Great Meols now called Meols”. This is not quite correct as on O/S maps and A-Z guides all North of Birkenhead Road is designated Great Meols and all South as Meols. The local school is even called ’Great Meols’.

I only mention this as one who does not like traditional place names in danger of losing their identity. Like your magazine, keep it up!

Neil Carver, Great Meols

West Kirby Folk Song I was delighted to discover that The New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs included a song from West Kirby collected by Dorothy Dearnley from a Mr Hale and originally published in 1967 in Dearnley’s Seven Cheshire Folk-Songs.

The song is entitled ‘William and Mary’ and tells the story of two lovers who are parted. He returns in disguise three years later to test her love. All ends happily with their wedding being planned.

I am trying to find out more about the origins of the song. I think that the Mr Hale, from whom the song was collected, was probably one of the Hales who owned the bakers. I know that one of the family, John Hale, was organist at St Hildeburgh’s in Hoylake in 1960s but lived in West Kirby. It is possible that the song was collected from him? If so, I wonder if he sang any other folk songs.

I would be very interested from anyone who has information about the Hale family and their music making.

Neil Page, by email

Jane Kearley, by email

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For further details email: mark@lakemagazine.co.uk or telephone 0151 652 1600

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Celebrate Christ mas at Thornton Hall Hotel and Spa

The Great Wirral Afternoon Tea Selection of Loose Leaf Teas, Herbal Infusions and Hot Beverages Finger Sandwiches • Cakes & Fancies • Scones

Thornton Hall’s afternoon tea is a twist on traditional afternoon teas, offering an a la carte experience. Our extensive tea selection ranges from classic English Breakfast to exotic Mandarin Rose petal. Our finger sandwiches, cakes and fancies can accommodate not only every taste bud but dietary requirements as well.

We source handmade local jams and curds, with flavours such as raspberry and vanilla to rhubarb and ginger.

Afternoon Tea • £19.95 per person

Festive Lunch

Enjoy a leisurely lunch served between 12 Noon - 2.00pm • Monday to Saturday Our Festive Lunches are ideal for larger parties and individuals alike.

Cream of Mushroom Soup, Tarragon Essence Pressed Local Ham Knuckle, Parsnip & Pickles Crisp Goats Cheese, Beetroot Jam, Celery & Walnuts Gravadlax, Pommery Mustard & Dill ..................

Slow Cooked Turkey, Red Cabbage, Roast Sprouts & Chestnuts Liverpool University Pork, Cauliflower, Turnips & Cider Braised Blade of Beef, Celeriac, Cabbage & Marrow Fritters Grilled Cod, Barley Risotto & Snowdonian Shitake Cream Fine Pastry Tart, Jerusalem Artichokes, Sweet Onions ..................

Handmade Christmas Pudding with Brandy Sauce Tiramisu Cheesecake Black Forest Gateaux Lemon Meringue, Blueberries & Olive Oil Shortbread ..................

Coffee & Mince Pies

2 Courses - £17.95 • 3 Courses - £21.95

THORNTON HALL H O T E L & S PA

Visit our website on www.thorntonhallhotel.com or call 0151 336 3938 for further information

Festive Breaks

Relax and unwind this Christmas and into the New Year with a gorgeous spa break. All our guests have use of our amazing spa facilities including indoor pool and outdoor Spa bath, and can dine in the Award winning Lawns Restaurant.

Gift Vouchers The perfect Christmas Gift.

You can give monetary gift vouchers to use either in the Hotel or Beauty & Hair Spa or we have more specific vouchers.

The Vouchers can be purchased either online, in person (just call in to our main reception), or over the phone, by calling The Lodge on 0151 353 3737 between 9.00am to 5.00pm. After 5.00pm call The Spa on 0151 353 0116.