Leek Life Issue 45

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ISSUE 45

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Life

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ISSUE 45

Editor’s Letter ................................6 Fundraising ....................................7 Action West End ............................8 Quiz Corner....................................8 Borderland Voices..........................9 Camra Good Beer Guide ..............10 Campaign for Real Ale ..................11 Gardening.....................................12 Leek Cricket Club .........................13 Patient Participation Groups .......13 Leek Life Snappers .......................14 Survive Together ..........................14 Donna Louise Hospice .................15 Local Poet .....................................15

Leek Town Mayor.........................16 Leek Life Selfies............................17 Halloween Picture Special...........20 Joke Time.....................................22 High Sheriff Visit .........................23 Flower & Vegetable Show ............24 Phoenix Singers ...........................25 Leek & Buxton College.................26 Leek Twinning Committee ..........27 Tales From the Past.....................28 Leek Town Crier...........................29 Financial Matters.........................30 Reflections Coaching ...................32

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“Thank you to all our key workers”

Belinda Hargreaves Contents Editor life@timesandecho.co.uk Holly Keates Tracey Redfern Design & Production Thomas Brian General Manager tom@timesandecho.co.uk Mobile: 07855 242693 Jane Walters Advertising Sales jane@timesandecho.co.uk Times, Echo & Life Publications 18 Tape Street, Cheadle, Stoke-on-Trent ST10 1BD Tel: 01538 752214 www.timesechoandlife.co.uk life@timesandecho.co.uk

A

s I write this, we have just entered into the second national lockdown for England – yet another period of change during the nation’s ongoing battle with coronavirus.

Only last week, along with the rest of Staffordshire, we were gearing up for going into the High Local Covid Alert Level – it certainly is confusing sometimes to keep up.

With this, please bear in mind that some of the lovely columns and articles which have been submitted for this edition of the Leek Life Magazine were kindly sent in before any news of the second lockdown, so may appear to be a little out of date.

But still this is what this magazine is all about – life in our lovely town of Leek, of which, of course, now includes the ever changing aspects of the global pandemic.

I do hope everyone is safe and well and coping through these surreal times?

My thoughts go out to those families who have lost a loved

Front cover photo

by Brett Trafford Photography www.bretttrafford.com

one to this awful virus; and also my thoughts go to those who may be suffering from it themselves.

I also wish to say thank you to all the hard working frontline staff such as those working in the NHS or in care homes. Thank you also, of course, to the other many key workers who are keeping our country going such as shop workers, delivery drivers, bin men, and many many more.

Once again, we do not, I am afraid, have the normal picture spreads of vibrant community events from Leek’s usually bustling calendar in this edition of the Leek Life Magazine, due to the current Government restrictions putting paid to the annual extravaganzas.

However, we do still have many inspiring stories from energetic fundraisers to community organisations gaining well-deserved recognition; and we also have updates from a number of community groups, and also a frighteningly fantastic picture special from Halloween.

We have also started a new feature called ‘Leek Life Selfies’ which I hope more people will get involved in to help celebrate and promote our lovely quirky town – and help us to still fill our publication with smiley faces representing life in Leek.

Until next time – take care!

Find us on Facebook search for Leek Life Magazine

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FUNDRAISING

Locko completes marathon challenge

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Leek chap has been going all out to raise money for charity – not only by running a social media community page with any proceeds going to charity, but also taking on a marathon challenge round his home area.

James Lockett – known to many as Locko – is the mastermind behind the everpopular Leek TV Facebook page.

Here, Locko tells the Leek Life Magazine all about his fundraising and his marathon challenge around the ‘Three Wonders of Leek.’

I have been fundraising for the Douglas Macmillan Hospice for some time through Leek TV. We are lucky to be able to use this forum for this.

Dougie Mac is not a hospice that I or my family have had to use but I am aware of the fantastic work they do.

I’ve always been a keen runner and did the London Marathon in 2003 when I was 28. I always said I would like to do it again.

I am not getting any younger (I’m 45!), so I approached the charity last year and they secured me a place for this year’s marathon in the capital.

I trained for the April race for nearly four months but sadly near to race day, the event was cancelled owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

As an alternative, I was offered a virtual London Marathon place in October - a unique event for 2020. I accepted this although was never really committed to doing this.

I did not know where I would ‘virtually’ walk or run to make up the 26 miles. I also lacked the

motivation to do this alone in the cold and wet.

However, just two nights before and whilst in the Prince of Wales pub with my friend Jamie Jeffrey, we discussed this event and he randomly agreed to join me. Just as support.

We decided to walk as neither of us had trained for this.

I had stopped my marathon training earlier on in the year and well Jamie had simply made an impulsive decision.

Jamie came up with a fantastic route; we called it ‘The Three Wonders of Leek.’ It included a ramble round Rudyard Lake and Tittesworth Reservoir before a climb up to Roach End and over the Roaches. The finish line was the Blue Mugge.

We actually overcooked it slightly as our Strava said 28 miles when we had finished. The actual London Marathon is 26.2 miles.

All participants recorded their progress on the official London Marathon app. You had 24 hours to complete the event from mid night to mid night.

We set off at 5.30am in the rain and it took us

approximately seven and a half hours walking briskly. We had food, energy bars, liquid refreshment and music to help us along the way. Jamie suffered with terrible blisters and I have since had a troublesome Achilles. A pair of ageing warriors.

In the process we were overwhelmed by the kindness shown by way of donations. We raised over £2,500 for the Douglas Macmillan and felt a fantastic sense of achievement and appreciation to those who donated and supported us.

We would be grateful if we could use this article in the Leek Life Magazine to thank everyone who kindly donated. We really appreciate it and we certainly know that the Dougie Mac does too.

I have since received a commemorative 2020 finishers medal and a t shirt. The pint of Bass in the Dyers at the finish line was wondrous by the way!

Anyone wishing to donate to James’ cause, can do so by going online to www.justgiving.com/fundraising /james-lockett2.

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AcTion WeST enD

T

his is an update to say that our resident's group Action West End in Leek is still here!

We hope everyone in the west end of Leek, and beyond, are safe and well through these very surreal times.

Yes, we have not been able to meet since March, and we had to sadly cancel this year's Family Fun Day at Westwood Road Recreational Grounds, and, I am afraid, we have not been as proactive as we would have liked to have been during the pandemic – this is due to personal circumstances of our dedicated members. But please be rest assured, Action West End is still here!

We hope to resume meetings again when the Government restrictions allow, and it is also

safe to do so; and we certainly hope that we will be able to host our ever-growing Action West End Family Fun Day in September, 2021.

In the meantime, if there are any issues within our community of the west end of Leek which residents wish to have some guidance on, or perhaps we, as a resident's group, can contact any relevant organisation(s) for help and support, then please do get in touch.

Anyone wishing to contact our group can do so via our 'Action West End' Facebook page, or by calling 07941 806986.

For now – please keep safe and well.

We will see you on the other side!

Belinda Chairman of Action West End

Quizzes compiled by Paul Steele - email: pnsteele@aol.com - Paul's 'Which One?' quiz game is available on Amazon.

quiz corner

General Knowledge Answers: 1. Donkey; 2. Liverpool; 3. Richard O'Brien; 4. Venus; 5. Vienna; 6. Eddie Murphy; 7. Jamie Laing; 8. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; 9. Six; 10. Donald Duck

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BORDERLAND VOICES

Group continues to support mental well-being

B

ased in Leek, Borderland Voices usually provides mental health and well-being support to more than 35 people in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

Thanks to the postal service and to modern technology, its art and writing sessions have managed to adapt and continue during the current pandemic.

Borderland Voices Coordinator, Andy Collins, said: “It is challenging and time-consuming, especially making sure that no-one falls through the cracks.

“In late March, I got participants’ permission to share contact details within the group according to their preferences. People now support one another via post, phone, email, WhatsApp and in Zoom meetings.”

The writing group ‘meets’ weekly on Zoom to read and

discuss their writing sent in advance, to catch up on news of those not on the internet and to socialise.

Andy posts out the collected writing to those without internet but she is pleasantly surprised that so many have adapted to unfamiliar technology. These new skills will always be useful.

At the last art group in March, Andy sent people home with postcard-sized card and envelopes, to create mini artwork at home and send to others. Now local artist Becca Baddeley, from Buxton, who graduated in Fine Art in the summer, is regularly creating really professional, themed artpacks.

These consist of several sheets, including ideas/examples, numbered guidance and templates. Andy posts these out but they are also available to download free

on the Borderland Voices website: www.borderlandvoices.org.uk.

In December, Borderland Voices will start another chapter in what’s already been a year of upheaval. With several other support organisations, they are moving from Bank House in St Edward Street, to new premises at the rear of Leek Health Centre in Fountain Street.

Andy said: “I really hope that in 2021 participants will be able to meet again in our new home.

“Meanwhile, I’m so proud of the way Borderland Voices members continue to support one another and know that they’re always happy to welcome new faces.”

For further information about Borderland Voices, call Andy Collins on 07760 138395, or email her at andy@borderlandvoices.org.uk

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CAMRA GOOD BEER GUIDE

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our Leek pubs have been awarded a coveted place in the 2021 Good Beer Guide published by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

The pubs included are selected and voted on by CAMRA members who visit and survey all pubs all over the UK, with the main criteria being the consistent quality of the cask conditioned beer or ‘real ale’ sold.

Staffordshire Moorlands branch members have this time voted, for Leek public houses, The Wilkes Head in St Edward Street, The Roebuck in Derby Street, The Fountain Inn in Fountain Street, and The Blue Mugge in Osbourne Street.

Staffs Moorlands CAMRA branch chairman Steve Barton said: “The Wilkes is

now in the proud position of having been the longest continuous entry in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, appearing in every single edition since 1996, an incredible 25 years.

“The Roebuck, a Titanic Brewery owned pub, has made a welcome return and welldeserved entry into the 2021 guide.

“The Fountain Inn has now become a regular fixture in the guide having appeared every year since 2016; while The Blue Mugge is fast becoming a favourite with local CAMRA members and is now awarded its second entry into the guide.”

Steve added: “We in the local branch are in the unenviable position of having so many fantastic pubs to chose from in the great pub town of Leek and the wider Moorlands.

“I personally feel that Leek alone could have at least a dozen worthy entries in the Good Beer Guide each year but alas we can only fill the limited allocation of spaces allowed for our branch by CAMRA HQ. “We have long worked hard behind the scenes lobbying our seniors both at county and regional level to increase the number of pubs we are able to enter in the guide and this is slowly coming to fruition, going from seven last year, to ten next year and hopefully 11 places in 2022.

“This we hope will better reflect how good the pubs are in the Staffordshire Moorlands area and Leek in particular.

“I’d like to offer my personal congratulations to all the pubs that our members have voted as being worthy of a place in the 2021 Good Beer Guide.”

Other Good Beer Guide 2021 entries within the Staffordshire Moorlands are The Black Lion in Cheddleton; The Black Lion at Consall Forge; The Yew Tree in Cauldon; The Crossways Micropub at Blythe Bridge; as well as The Huntsman and The Bird in Hand, both in Cheadle.

The Good Beer Guide 2021 can be purchased online from https://shop1.camra.org.uk/product/thegood-beer-guide-2021

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