ISSUE 48
£2 WHERE SOLD
Life
ISSUE 48
Editor s Letter ...................................3
Local Musicians ..............................22
4th Leek Scout Group .......................4
Joke Time........................................23
Kieran Rutter Legacy Fund ...............5
Poetry ..............................................24
Foxlowe Arts Centre..........................6
Quiz Corner .....................................24
Leek Life Selfies ..............................10
Tales Fron The Past.........................25
Leek Weddings.................................11
Campaign For Real Ale....................26
Art College Students ........................12
Fitness..............................................27
Reader s Pics....................................13
Patient Locality Group.....................28
@21 Leek Youth Project...................14
New Planters....................................28
Leek Town Crier ..............................14
Gardening........................................29
Garden Wildlife ...............................15
Young Farmers................................30
Buxton & Leek College.....................16
Bee Friendly Leek............................30
Volunteer Awards ............................18
Reflections Coaching.......................32
What s On .......................................20
Financial Matters............................34
Leek Town Mayor............................22
EDITOR S LETTER
Leek life goes on
W Belinda Hargreaves Contents Editor life@timesandecho.co.uk Erin Tuckwell 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
elcome to Issue 48 of the Leek Life Magazine another edition published during such surreal times with the ongoing pandemic. The good news is that more and more folk are getting vaccinated, but the not so good news is that there are also more and more variants of coronavirus popping up across the world still such unprecedented and worrying times. However, Leek Life goes on, albeit maybe not as vibrant as normal times, but there s certainly still lots going on within our wonderful community. In this edition we take a look at what s been happening, mainly behind the scenes, at the community-run Foxlowe Arts Centre, which is slowly but surely Government restrictions allowing - getting back to the vibrant arts venue it has become over the past decade. Staying on the volunteer theme, we also have a feature
Front cover photo by Brett Trafford Photography www.bretttrafford.com
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celebrating much-valued volunteers within our area who have gained recognition at a district-wide awards ceremony. We have an inspirational article about how the Kieran Rutter Legacy Fund has managed to donate more than £60,000 to charities; an informative piece all about Scouting locally; news of a second single for a Moorlands musical duo; an introduction to our new town mayor; and information and pictures regarding two art exhibitions. As always, we have many wonderful contributions from an array of Leek folk all which make for interesting reading - and, yet again, we have some lovely smiley Leek Life Selfies. And finally we have a What s On section once more. Obviously it is not as packed as it should normally be at this time of year, but there s still lots to look forward to. I hope you enjoy reading this latest edition of Leek Life and if you have a story to tell please do get in touch with me at hargreavespr@outlook.com.
Until next time take care!
4TH LEEK SCOUT GROUP
Building bridges and breaking barriers
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he Scouting movement began in the UK in 1908 and came to Leek just a few years later. It has seen, over the years, thousands of youngsters enjoying the many activities and events that the movement organises. Here Jess Barlow Assistant Cub Leader at 4th Leek Scout Group writes about their group and what it means to be a part of it: Being a Scout is all about discovering the world on your own terms and making the most of what you have, wherever and whoever you are. Scouts start small but think big. They stand up for what they believe in and make a difference on their doorsteps, confident in the knowledge that their daily actions add up. In a society that can often feel increasingly isolated and inward facing, Scouts build bridges and break barriers. 4th Leek Scout Group was founded in 1911 with T R
Byers as Scoutmaster, and ever since our Scouts have played all sorts of useful roles in our local society. A legacy we continue to uphold at 4th Leek today. During section meetings Scouts enjoy a huge range of activities from arts and crafts, to cooking and baking, playing games and camp craft. We also take part in an array of annual events like camps, activity days, dragon boat racing, swimathons and more. Fundraising activities offer a new experience as we host Summer and Christmas fayres, coffee mornings, raffle ticket selling and assist with the running of Leek Show. Each activity not only offers the chance to earn a much wanted badge for their uniform, but also the chance to learn a new skill, make a new friend and build confidence. There are three sections Beavers, Cubs and Scouts and each meets weekly at the HQ. The 4th Leek Beaver Group meets on Thursdays 6.30pm 7.45pm. Beaver Scouts are
aged between 5¾ and eight. Beavers usually move up to the next section (Cub Scouts) at eight years old. The 4th Leek Cub Scouts are aged between eight and 10½. They meet on Wednesdays at 6.30pm - 8pm. Cubs normally move up to the next section (Scouts) at 10.5 years old. Scouts are for young people aged between 10½ and 14 years, and they meet on Fridays between 7 and 9pm. When they are 14½ years old they can move up to a District Explorer Unit. All members of the leadership team and committee are unpaid volunteers. We could not operate if we didn t have such dedicated individuals. We are always looking to appoint new members in any role, to suit any lifestyle and time commitment. Want to join the adventure as a Scout, Leader or member? Message us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/4t hLeek or visit www.4thleek.weebly.com.
KIERAN RUTTER LEGACY FUND
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The support we have had means the world to us
ore than £60,000 has been raised through the Kieran Rutter Legacy Fund a fund which was set up by Kieran s family after the 20-year-old, who lived in Leek, sadly lost his life after a car crash in 2015. Here Kieran s parents, Steve and Alicia Rutter, write about their son and how they have raised such an amazing amount of money for charity in his memory: From a young baby Kieran was a wild child and always very active with a cheeky nature and stayed like that, that was him. As he got older he would always give lots of stick and make jokes about friends but if ever there was any problems he was fiercely defensive of his close friends. He is very much missed by friends and family and is regularly visited at the cemetery by many people. We started the Legacy Fund in early 2016 so it s been running for over five years now. Our first Golf Day was 2017 so we are onto our fourth one this year as last year s was cancelled due to the pandemic, with this year s being the biggest yet. We have held many different fundraising events from sponsored walks, runs, Legacy nights at the Blue Mugge, our £1,000 draw, 80s night and individuals have also ran in events with funds coming to the fund. The most bizarre one was the Duck Race run from the Dyers Arms. Watching grown adults cheering on plastic ducks floating down a river was very funny but it was a great day and finished off with a band playing in the Dyers till late. We have donated over £60,000 in cash or goods since we started and while the support is still there we will continue to raise money in Kieran s memory. In this year s £1,000 draw we are honouring other children of parents in our group. We are very aware that so many others are in our position so we messaged them all and they all said they would like their children to be remembered also, so that s what we did, and with their permission we will continue to do this with
the draw. We can t thank people enough for the support we have received, it means the world to us. Every message received helps us as we continue to grieve the loss of our precious son. We think Kieran would be very proud of the Fund, we hope so anyway, I m sure he would. Here are just some of the places we have donated to, we keep it local to our area: First Responders, Donna Louise, Cardiac Risk in the Young, MacMillan Cancer Care, British Heart Foundation (local branch), Dougie Mac, North Staffs Heart Committee, North Staffs Combined (nurses), MIND and three different Depts at the UHNM. We have also donated two local defibrillators to Pointon Park and the Meadows School plus quite a few more smaller donations locally. We have also been honoured to be entrusted to receive three separate lots of funeral donations which we are so proud of and thank the families concerned. All wanted the donations to go to local funds which we made sure they did. To take part in this year s Kieran Rutter Legacy Fund £1,000 draw, information on this year s Golf Day which will take place on July 16, and to keep up to date with other fundraising activities of the Fund, go online to: www.facebook.com/groups/1728697027365463.
FOXLOWE ARTS CENTRE
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espite being closed on and off for the most of the past year, there s been lots going on behind the scenes at the Foxlowe Arts Centre in Leek. The community-owned and run venue has been running as an arts centre since 2011 when the then newly formed Foxlowe Arts Centre Trust took on a lease with the then owners of the Georgian building. Over the next decade, the trust took on a private mortgage with the owners, before setting up the Foxlowe Loan Scheme this year which has enabled members of the community to help purchase the building outright for the town. The Foxlowe Arts Centre has gone from strength to strength since first opening with a gallery exhibition in 2011 followed swiftly by the opening of its community cafe. The building is now almost accept for it s cellar space used to it s full capacity with: The Drawing Room Cafe, Bromfield Function Room, bar area, cafe and corridor galleries, first floor main gallery, meeting
rooms, creative workshop space, as well as the top floor Creative Hub which is home to many local independent creative businesses. Plus the Fox & Crow Gallery has it s base in the ground floor Cruso Room. And then there are the glorious gardens and patio area to the back of the Foxlowe, as well as the Gateway Shed project. Pre-Covid, the team at the Foxlowe Arts Centre, which is mainly volunteers with a small number of paid dedicated members of staff, had helped to build the centre up into a thriving venue, with a well-used cafe, ever changing gallery exhibitions, as well an extensive programme of music, comedy, film, talks, and theatre events, and all that s not including all the private functions, such as weddings and other family events, which have taken place at the venue. The Drawing Cafe re-opened in May, and entertainment is now finally making a comeback at the Foxlowe. Already, the Foxlowe team has successfully hosted two social-distanced
comedy nights and a number of music gigs, and the programme of events is building back up once more. Most of the events take place in the now named Bromfield Function Room which has had a refurbishment during the past 12 months, with many socialdistanced volunteer hours being put into redecorate and reconfigure the room to be able to seat more audience members, once restrictions allow. Refurbishment works have also seen the completion of the Heritage Lottery Funded new roof project, revamp of the lobby and stairs which are used to get to the Creative Hub, as well as much-needed maintenance work and redecoration of the front door and pillars the latter two projects being carried out purely by volunteers. Now the team at the Foxlowe is aiming, as the lifting of Government restrictions allow, to get the venue back up to a thriving arts centre once more. To find out more about the Foxlowe Arts Centre, go online to: www.foxloweartscentre.org.uk.
See our What s On feature on pages 20 and 21 for what s coming up at the Foxlowe Arts Centre
FOXLOWE ARTS CENTRE
One big HUG for the Foxlowe With hugs making a comeback as the Government eases Covid-19 restrictions, The Foxlowe Arts Centre is set to get its very own big fat hug! The team at Moorlands Climate Action (MCA) are hosting the HUG Green Arts Festival on Saturday, June 26. Teresa Pattison, Events Coordinator for MCA, explains more about the event: At Moorlands Climate Action Group, we are pleased that the HUG Green Arts Festival will take place at The Foxlowe Arts Centre in Leek this year. We were disappointed when we had to cancel last year s event but Saturday, June 26, 2021 is now booked in and looking promising. We would be delighted if you could join us between 10am and 4pm. At the start of the day there will be the unveiling of the new Foxlowe Garden Dragonfly sculpture situated next to a designated picnic area in the garden. There will be stalls downstairs and the café, the shop and the art gallery will be open. Upstairs in the Rainbow Room and craft room there will be a range of activities and workshops including children s craft workshops, Yoga, Qigong, Shiatsu, a dance rehearsal for a flashmob (ER Stayin Alive ), short environmental films and a Q&A to follow. In the afternoon we are very excited to be joined by PHD students and working scientists who will
introduce our very own Climate Question Time. The panel will be able to answer questions from the audience. Outside there will be circus activities for children, a drumming workshop and a singing workshop. On the terrace, a willow artist will be doing a public demonstration of his art and a visiting bee keeper will be talking about keeping bees. In the bar, local poets have been invited to read or perform their own poetry. The stalls will include advisory groups on all things environmental including waste, energy and transport. Sustrans, The Woodland Trust, Moorlands Climate Action, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and Friends of the Earth, The RSPB and the Co-operative bank will be represented and you can browse stalls of vinyl, upcycled product ranges, plants, preloved treasures, work from local artists and see an exhibition of art. Several of the art stalls will be running drop-in workshops during the day, free and open to all. Anyone who would like to find out more about Moorlands Climate Action and join us would be very welcome. All monies raised from an exciting raffle for hampers of goodies and donations will go towards the cost of insulating The Foxlowe which is aiming to achieve carbon neutral status by 2030. Cash donations will be welcome.
Creative work on display in cafe
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he Foxlowe Art Centre s Drawing Room cafe currently has an inspirational exhibition of creative works by local Fine Art and Portraiture artist Gavin Bowyer. Gavin, who produces detailed black and white of British wildlife and portraiture, is a Grisaille inspired visual artist and an awardwinning advanced skills teacher. For over three years he has worked as a professional visual artist and designer in his secondfloor studio within the Creative Hub at the Foxlowe Arts Centre. Gavin s dedication to his work has recently seen an opportunity to display his work in London; and he has received national recognition and been invited to display two portraits this July at the Society of Graphic Fine Art Open Exhibition and The Pastel Society 122nd Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries
in London. He said: I ve waited 35 years to break through and here I am preparing to visit London to see my work in two national exhibitions. It doesn t seem real. My family, especially my mum, are so proud and excited. Gavin has developed a style of artwork that is inspired by the ephemeral fragile natural world and his love to capture vivid poignant pictures in a realistic format. Usually, he gravitates to ordinary people and domestic interior scenes. Gavin states that he is a true advocate for the importance of good drawing. He said: I believe that black and white art allows the observer to concentrate on elements such as composition, value, lighting and form. It s raw, it s stripped back, it s honest and it allows you to show the true person.
Currently, Gavin is busy in his studio completing pet and family portrait commissions, collaborating with On the Horizon Counselling Service therapeutic community art sessions. He also provides one to one art tuition and group workshops. Visitors to the Foxlowe can view his creations in the Drawing Room Cafe until July 16, or visit his studio in the Foxlowe Creative Hub. For further information go online to: www.gavinbowyerportraitartist.co m.
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CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE LEEK LIFE SELFIES
All aboard for fun in the sun
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s the Government s lockdown restrictions are continuing to be eased, lots of families are getting back out and about in the Moorlands, and wider afield, enjoying what our beautiful country has to offer. Here we have a selection of Leek Life Selfies which have been kindly sent in to us by some of our readers which show just some of the fun which has been had lately. What has your family been up to lately? Please email your pictures to be considered for use in our 'Leek Life Selfies' to our editor Belinda at hargreavespr@outlook.com.
Bethany and Jessica having fun on the zipline at Higher Woodcroft Recreation Ground. Photo by Amanda Taylor
Bethany, Oliver and Jessica having fun at Higher Woodcroft Recreation Ground. Photo by Amanda Taylor
Enjoying the local wildlife. Photo by Kirsty King
Michelle Harris, from Leek, with her son Joseph at Alton Towers
Enjoying a day out at Apedale. Photo by Kirsty King
LEEK WEDDINGS
Banding together to offer free weddings
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businesswoman in Leek has banded together with many other local businesses to offer free weddings to terminally ill couples. Emma Wisely, who lives in Leek, has started a new group called Leek Weddings where they are enabling terminally ill couples to get married with everything supplied free-of-charge. The mother-of-four has been running Ems Cakes Catering and Events since October 2018 and has been in the catering and cake making industry for 14 years. Em started up Leek Weddings earlier this year. She said: We set up five months ago and we officially opened on June 11. We are still awaiting our first couple to marry fully with us, and I have a couple using a couple of our services mid June, and the team from Dougie Mac are coming over to see exactly what we have to offer their patients. Leek Weddings is for terminally ill couples only. Em went on to explain why she decided to set up Leek Weddings: I ve always
loved charity, helping some one in need, and have previously raised money for neonatal and many local families or fundraisers. I was gifted some tiaras from the Bridal Quarters in Leek which got me thinking how amazing would it be if I could set up a wedding group especially for the terminally ill. I quickly made enquiries, asked the public for donations and businesses for support. I took on larger premises to gain the venue and be able to create the whole package. Em has been inundated with lots of support from individuals and businesses across the area. She said: I m very humbled by every single person who has donated products or services. I truly couldn t have done it without them, I can t thank them enough for their support. Without them Leek Weddings would simply be a dream. Em added: I m extremely grateful to my amazing supporting husband Jack who has completed all the renovations on his
own throughout the whole project. We ve laughed and cried, it s been a very challenging journey but one I m so proud to have created. Jack is my rock, without him I d never have been able to achieve such an amazing journey. As for how many weddings Em is set to give her time up for Leek Weddings, she said: I m happy to see how it goes. We re currently working with Dougie Mac and Katharine House for referrals so currently seeing what demand is like. But ideally, I would like to help every request as it comes in. I know I have the backing of the team and ha ave a couple of each sector to be able to cover when otherss are busy and I have new companies ad dding their names to myy suppliers list daily which is phenomenal. To find ou ut morre about Leek Wedding gs, go o onlline to the website, whicch is sponsored by Leeek Radio, at www.leekradio.co o.uk/leekwe ddings. g
ART COLLEGE STUDENTS
Final project artwork displayed
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tudents have been showcasing their talents with an end of course exhibition.
Astound 21 took place at the Leek School of Art at Buxton & Leek College from Saturday, May 29 through until Saturday, June 19. The annual exhibition featured the final project artwork from third year students studying the Foundation Degree in Creative Art & Design Practice at the college. This year s six artists demonstrated a wide-range of techniques and media, a culmination of three year s work, specialising in areas such as textiles, fine art, glass, ceramics, and printmaking. A spokesman at the college said: The last tumultuous 18-months has meant that much of the students tuition took place via video conference, thus they were overjoyed that the exhibition was a live event, plus that it was held in the original Leek School of Art Sugden building at Buxton & Leek College. Student artist, Cath Littlewood who produced a body of work, exploring her fascination of past memories, said: The Covid restrictions were awful for the group s cohesive way of working, we relied on internet-based lessons, and encountered frequent connection problems. Of course, it meant no access to college facilities either. That we could proceed with
an exhibition in the college was brilliant. Fellow student, Tony Simon, who exhibited a collection of ceramics inspired by landscape, added: An online event seemed the only possibility throughout lockdown, everyone was so happy to see the public experience the exhibition as it was originally intended. Art ideally should be viewed directly, not through a computer screen or smartphone. Jane Clowes, from Ipstones, who explored glass techniques inspired by the Churnet Valley, said: Our determination as a group has allowed the exhibition to rise like a Phoenix from the ashes of lockdown. We ve had so many obstacles in our way, in the end the driving force of communication from ourselves and our tutors won through. Entrepreneurial Practice Lecturer, Chris Thompson praised his students for going above and beyond. He added: Thanks to guest artists and gallery owners for their support, including Les Jones from Elsie Magazine, Sarah Taylor from the Fox and Crow Gallery and Hannah and Chris Barker from the Small Print Company. The event was supported by the current Second Year Foundation Degree students, who exhibited alongside the third years, in preparation for their final year. Leek Town Mayor, Lyn Swindlehurst, was invited to attend the opening of Astound 21.
READER S PICS
Beautiful scenes of the Moorlands
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hat a most lovely area of Middle England we live in! Isn t it just fantastic to be able to take a quick drive, or in some cases even a walk, out of town, to be instantly greeted by the luscious green countryside of the Moorlands? Here we have some fantastic photos of our Moorlands scenery which have been kindly sent in to us by reader Cliff Salt. Have you snapped a stunning local scene recently? Email your pictures to news@timesandecho.co.uk.
@21 LEEK YOUTH PROJECT
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Leek based youth charity is celebrating after a successful bid to the National Lottery Community Fund. The Leek Youth Project, which is based in Market Street and is known as @21, has been running for more than 20 years. It provides facilities, support, and activities for young people, many who are vulnerable and at risk. In 2014 central funding for the project disappeared when Staffordshire County Council closed all its youth services and since then a determined group of dedicated local volunteers have pitched in to keep the youth club open. It plays a vital role in helping and protecting the more vulnerable youngsters in the area by providing youth workers, a base, an activity centre, structure, and people to talk to in time of crisis. @21 secretary Roy Gregg said: The last seven years have been really difficult. It costs £7,000 a year to keep the building running and £10,000
for two youth workers to support the volunteers who work for nothing. We have been barely keeping our head above water financially, but we knew how important it was to keep our charity alive and to support and enhance the lives of young people in the town. The Lottery grant means that @21 has the finances and security to continue for the next three years and we now have stability without threat of closure hanging over us. However, we will not be resting on our laurels and we are pushing ahead with our campaign to raise our profile and develop a network of supporters and services to help us carry on long into the future. The response to date has been really positive and we are already working with a group of businesses in the town have formed a The @21 Action Group whose aim is to bring in long-term support from the Leek business community. In addition, they are providing
LEEK TOWN CRIER
invaluable help with marketing, PR, finance, advice and access to their networks. Sarah Pruce, youth worker at @21 added: The Lottery funding award is a fantastic recognition of the importance of our work, and it means that we can run our drop-in sessions more frequently, open for longer hours and organise more activities. We know how critical our support is for these youngsters, and particularly during the pandemic. We are now looking forward to coming out of lockdown stronger than ever. If you would like to find out more about how you can get involved with @21 please contact Michelle Cohen: michellecohentownend@gmail.c om or call 07734 417928.
Please protect yourselves and others around you
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ur lives revolve around this pandemic. It s real and we have many attitudes to it.
Leek Town Crier Bill Lomas. Pic by Brett Trafford Photography
As I go around town as town crier or me, people stop to chat with some complaining about all manner of things. Face masks are on top of the list with having to queue, one person at a time allowed in the shops but, you know what, most people have become very accepting of what is happening. Some shop owners are understandably worried how they will survive much longer as it s going on and on.
GARDEN WILDLIFE
Goldfinch a charming bird
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f I had to pick the most colourful bird I regularly see in my garden, it may well be the Goldfinch.
It is a bird I have seen in increasing numbers over recent years, not just because of a rise in overall population but due to me providing the right type of food. The sad truth about being a beautiful bird with a twittering song is you can become quite desirable. Goldfinches were persecuted in the 18th and 19th Century, being captured and caged for their colour and song. This seriously affected numbers although they bounced back once this horrific practice ceased. The Goldfinch is easy to identify. A red face, black and white head, black and white wings which show off beautiful yellow gold bars. When in flight they are distinctive due to the white rump contrasting the black tail and the broad golden wing bars. They are incredibly social birds, likely to arrive in your garden in a flock, especially in colder months. Goldfinches announce their presence with rapid
chaotic noise, described by some as a high pitched tinkling mixed with canary like twittering. Once you get used to the noise they make, you are likely to hear them before you see them. All of this colour and sound is reflected in the name given to a flock of Goldfinches a charm. Attracting them, as I have found, is easier if you provide the correct food. They soon get to know where it is and return regularly, bringing their latest fledglings or juveniles with them. I have found Niger seed works well but I have had most success with sunflower hearts obviously a delicacy that is treasured by these beautiful little birds. If you have thistles, teasels or sunflowers growing in your garden, resist the temptation to remove the heads when they have flowered. Leave them where they are, allow them to dry out and you may be rewarded with Goldfinches vigorously extracting the seeds from them in a charming manner, of course. Steve Woods Leek nature and photography enthusiast
There seems to be a very different attitude now, of which I find surreal, in as much as the people of Leek just cope mostly as only Leek folk can. I still hear chatter and laughter, the odd shouts of greetings. One local said that they would always feel better to hearing the little tubby town crier chatting, banter, shouting and laughter. Seeing people in town that I have not seen for a very long time, hearing how people are now and how they have been coping. A lady said to me: Pandemic, third wave, hot spot, what is it all about? new shops opening and that determination in the air of: We will fight and fight to survive and we will win in the end. Is this the great British spirit shinning through? I am wary myself that we must all take care when we are out and about. There are fewer people about and, of course, fewer children to
give my sweets to. I m not giving out my usual items, but I will continue to go out just for a couple of hours on Saturdays to brighten up people s day as they walk around doing their shopping and hope that I can still put a smile on as many faces as I can. This town of Leek is still here and will spring back to being the best town around. It must be as I meet so many from all over. If we look hard enough, we will find something to smile about. Last but not least, please take care. There are over 600 people (in the area) who have been offered the vaccine who have not taken up the offer. Without being moralistic, please protect yourselves and others around you. God bless us all. Bill Lomas Leek Town Crier
BUXTON & LEEK COLLEGE
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re you: A school leaver who is looking for options of what to do after GCSEs? An adult wanting to retrain or gain new skills to enhance your CV? An employer looking to up-skill or add to your existing workforce? If so, Buxton & Leek College (BLC) is the place for you.
There are many reasons why people of all ages choose to come to college. They may be looking to expand their knowledge, learn a new skill, or seek new opportunities and experiences. BLC is not just an extension of the school system, we are a community asset, here to support technical and professional education and training, from the most basic introduction at entrylevel to professional development for those already in employment and looking to refine and build their higher-level skills. We are also here to support employers to develop their staff through specialist training, traineeships and apprenticeships. In fact, we currently have over 140 apprenticeship vacancies live and ready to apply for on our website, with employers based in Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Cheshire. Our programmes are a package of learning experiences directly leading to either new or enhanced employment, higher levels of study at the college or on to university. For those moving to BLC from school, our study programmes combine knowledgebuilding in the classroom, skills-building using industry-standard specialist facilities, and professional behaviour coaching to ensure that you stand out from the crowd. Our national award-winning maths and English team will ensure that you have the best possible development of your numeracy and literacy, whatever level you are at when you join us. Our Learner Journey Team, including your Progress Coach will make sure that you stay on track and also take you out of your comfort zone to experience a wide range of enrichment activities. We are a smalll butt am mbitious college, dedicated to providing the best possible learning g experiences. We treat people as individuals, each with theeir own unique qualities, requirements and goals. Further Educa ation with Buxton & Leek College is the key to unlocking your futu ure potential. The work we do chang ges lives. Fast facts about Buxto on & Leek College: We offer programmes for all ages, abilities and ambitions; We re part of the University of Derby; We offer free trransport along our college bus routes and also free transport betweeen our Buxton and Leek campuses; We re Ofsted Graded Goo od; We re award-winners winning the Tes FE Award 2021 for Outstanding GCSE Resit provision and the 2020 International Green n Gown Award for Student Engagement.
It s not too late to apply to Buxton & Leek College we have places available on programmes from September and over 140 apprenticeship vacancies available now. To apply or find out more information, visit blc.ac.uk or call us free on 0800 074 0099 we re open all throughout the summer.
VOLUNTEER AWARDS
Volunteers recognised at annual awards
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olunteers across the Moorlands have received much deserved recognition at an annual award ceremony.
Support Staffordshire hosted its 2021 Staffordshire Moorlands Volunteer Star Awards virtually on Tuesday, June 8. The awards aim to: recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements and commitment of volunteers and organisations who go the extra mile to support our communities. For the Leek and surrounding areas, we had three winners. They were: Jane Malkin of Borderland Voices who won the Personal Achievement award; Andrew Sutton of Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service won the Volunteering Support for Young People; and Mark Johnson of Borderland Voices won the Volunteering Support for the Over 65 s award. Meanwhile, commendations in the area
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ndrew Sutton of Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, who volunteers at Leek Fire Station, won the Volunteering Support for Young People award. Helen Wood nominated Andrew for the award. Here s what she said in her nomination: Andy has been volunteering with Safe+Sound for over two years. He supports by delivering Fire Safety workshops in our immersive, interactive pods, and by supporting children and schools as they attend Safe+Sound events and work their way round our five partner delivered workshops.
included: Community Champion for Leek Morrisons Sarah Gould in the Business Contribution to Communities category; Brown Edge and Endon Litter Picking Army in the New Volunteer Team of the Year; Linda Lea of the Brown Edge Luncheon Club in the Volunteering Support for the Over 65 s category; Cheddleton Local Committee in the Volunteer Team of the Year category; and Bill Taylor of Borderland Voices in the Trustee of the Year category. To watch the virtual award ceremony, go online to: www.youtube.com/channel/UCALwWQP47FS0Z JuAa2YuPNQ. Andy s help is invaluable as it helps schools get the most out of their visits to the fire station and their Safe+Sound experience. In November 2019 Andy helped support 508 Year Six children from Leek schools as they attended Safe+Sound at Leek Fire Station. He has learnt how to use our new immersive technology as a new innovative technology driven workshop, this was new to everyone and to be able to learn and adapt to such new technology is a credit to Andy and his determination to succeed. He has had an immensely positive impact on the children who attended with feedback such as: After today I will tell my brother not to charge his phone on his bed, and: After today I will make sure the doors are closed at night, and: After today I know what to do if there is a fire. It is clear that he is helping keep children and their families safer. He deserves to win as he has a calm, knowledgeable and interesting approach to delivery which the children really appreciate and engage with. He commits his time and is always reliable, enthusiastic and willing to help. He has grasped the opportunities the new technology has presented him with. It is a pleasure to nominate Andy for an award as he, and all the Staffs Fire Service volunteers, are a credit to the organisation and a pleasure to work with.
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VOLUNTEER AWARDS
hree Borderland Voices participants were recognised at the Volunteer Star Awards.
Here, Borderland Voices coordinator Andy Collins, tells us about why she nominated Jane Malkin, Bill Taylor and Mark Johnson for the awards. Since she started coming to Borderland Voices, arts for health and mental well-being, Jane Malkin has blossomed. Despite coping with disability, pain management, agoraphobia and anxiety, she s now a lively member of the group. Her writing is always a joy but more especially she s been providing vital support to others. Although she has acute anxiety about making phone calls, she s been regularly ringing another group member who d become isolated. Then she borrowed the Lenovo tablet we d managed to acquire for our oldest participant and wrote a simple, step-by-step, illustrated user manual to help get them online. For these reasons, she won the Moorlands area Personal Achievement Award. We are very fortunate in having participants who also volunteer as trustees and give the board essential feedback. Bill Taylor is one such participant trustee. His on-going mental health issues give him tremendous empathy but he s also willing to share his vulnerability. His writing is often quite short, but always penetrating and perceptive. The same is true of his contribution to trustees meetings. During the pandemic, Bill s volunteering has evolved in a new way. Acutely aware of those participants who for various reasons are unable or choose not to engage online, and despite finding phone calls difficult, he took it upon himself to ring these off-line people regularly, providing that week-by-week, friendly, reassuring contact to our most isolated members. Bill received the Commendation in the Trustee of the Year category. Mark Johnson has become a key ingredient in Borderland Voices, both ass participant and trustee. As one of just two or three people under the age of 65, he brings a welcome breath of youthful fresh air to our meetings. Throughout the pandemic he s supported our older participants in so many different ways: in our regular Zoom meetings; chatting to isolated participants on the phone; doing
Keatesy s Boxing Academy is a community boxing club Our Classes Since opening the club we have developed over 15 boxers and now have a stable set of 5 qualified England Boxing Coaches. We provide classes for ages 4 and above and all abilities. www.keatesysboxingacademy.co.uk 07790009797 07817644429 Unit U i 1 1-2, 2 69 C Cruso S St, Leek, ST13 8BN
shopping and fetching prescriptions; providing emotional support and finding sources of additional help. Mark is such a lively yet empathetic person who also has a wicked sense of humour and he s managed to bring much-needed smiles to all our faces over the past months. Predictably, his response on winning the Support for the over 65s Award was: I guess that officially qualifies me as the best-dressed Zimmer frame in the Moorlands.
WHAT S ON
Community events are making a come back With the continuous easing of the Government s Covid-19 restrictions comes more and more events making a welcome come back within our community again. Here is just a few of those events but please do bear in mind that they are all subject to Government Covid-19 restrictions, so please check with the venue before attending. Wednesday, June 30 Open Garden Evening. 6pm9pm. Cotton Grange Farm, Ellastone Road, Winkhill. In aid of the Cheadle and Ashbourne animal welfare societies. With a plant stall. Cost: £4 to include a cup of tea or coffee and a cake. Limited spaces due to Government restrictions so please call to book a space: 01538 308371 or 07423 810792. Sunday, July 4 Sunday Supplement. 10.30am-3pm in Leek town centre. Artisan Market with over 50 stalls of handmade crafts and foodie treats. Plus lots of the towns independent shops, cafes and pubs will also be open. First Sunday of every month. Saturday, July 31 Leek & District Show. 9am6pm at Birchall Playing Fields, Leek. https://leekshow.org.uk. Saturday, August 14 Manifold Show. The Arbour, Castern Hall, Ilam. www.manifoldshow.co.uk. Tuesday, September 14 Trip to the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas. A coach day trip hosted by Borderland Voices. Cost £5-£10 to include tea/coffee on arrival. To book a place, email andy@borderlandvoices.org.uk or call 01538 528708 or 07760
138395.
What s On at the Foxlowe Arts Centre
Saturday, June 26: HUG Green Arts Festival. An eco and well-being day organised by Moorlands Climate Action. Free event. 10am-4pm Thursday, July 1: Leek Comedy Club. With Sean Heydon, Jamie Sutherland, Dan Tiernan, Tal Davies and compere Sully O Sullivan. Tickets £10. Doors open at 7pm for 8pm start Saturday, July 3: Two Plus Two Exhibition. With works by Pat Bennett and Phil Bennett and their daughters Lucy and Kiera. Running through July and August. The Foxlowe Gallery is open Wednesday to Saturday between 10am and 4pm, and the first Sunday of the month. Saturday, July 10: Tom Binns-Ivan Brackenbury and more! Comedy. Tickets £12. Age 14 and over. Doors open at 7.15pm for 8pm start Thursday, August 5: Leek Comedy Club. With Ignacio Lopez, Nick Doody, Jane Hill, and compere James Cook. Tickets £10. Doors open at 7pm for 8pm start Friday, September 10: China Crisis. Music. Tickets £22.50. Age 16 and over. Doors open at 7.30pm
Saturday, September 11: Stephen Bailey: Can t Be Bothered. Comedy. Tickets £14. Age 14 and over. Doors open at 7.15pm for 8pm start
Friday, September 24: Robyn Hitchcock. Music. Tickets £17.50. Age 14 and over. Doors open at 7.30pm Saturday, September 25: River Folk Festival. Tickets £5 in advance or £6 on the door. Age 14 and over. Doors open at 5.30pm for 6pm start. Wednesday, September 29: Jerry Joseph part of the Leek Blues & Americana Festival. Music. Tickets £14. Age 14 and over. Doors open at 7.15pm for 8pm start
Friday, October 1: Son of Dave part of the Leek Blues & Americana Festival. Music. Tickets £12.50. Doors open at 7.15pm for 8pm start.
Saturday, October 2: Ian Siegal part of the Leek Blues & Americana Festival. Music. Tickets £14. Age 14 and over. Doors open at 7pm for 7.30pm start.
WHAT S ON Sunday, October 17: Henge. Music. Tickets £15. Doors open at 8pm.
Thursday, October 21: Gary Delaney: Gary in Punderland. Comedy. Tickets £20. Age 16 and over. Doors open at 7pm for 8pm start.
Saturday, October 23: The Achievers part of the Leek Blues & Americana Festival. Music. Tickets £15. Age 14 and over. Doors open at 7pm for 8pm start.
Friday, November 12: Limehouse Lizzy Live @ The Foxlowe. Music. Tickets £18. Age 14 and over. Doors open at 7.30pm Saturday, November 13: Martin Mucklowe The Full Works. Comedy. Tickets £15. Age 18 and over. Doors open at 7.15pm for 8pm start. Thursday, November 18: Scott Bennett: Relax. Comedy. Tickets £12.50. Age 16 and over. Doors open at 6.45pm for 7.30pm start Saturday, November 27: Mik Artistik s Ego Trip. Music. Ticket £12. Doors open at 7pm for 8pm start.
To find out more about the above events at the Foxlowe Arts Centre, and to purchase tickets (some which are subject to a booking fee), go online to https://foxloweartsce ntre.org.uk/events.
Have you got an event coming up which you would like to be considered to appear in our Leek Life Magazine What's On Guide? Email our editor Belinda at hargreavespr@outloo k.com.
Work shifts and away from your property, all blue light workers get 10% off new systems
LEEK TOWN MAYOR
Proud and humbled to be Mayor
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new mayor has been elected for the Moorlands town of Leek. Councillor Lyn Swindlehurst was elected as the 2021/22 Mayor of Leek at the May meeting of Leek Town Council. Cllr Swindlehurst said: I am proud and humbled to be elected Leek Town Mayor. I
pledge to do my best for all our communities, and welcome those that visit the town as friends. Six generations of the Swindlehurst family have made Leek their home. Market gardeners, silk industry buyers, teachers, nurses. I am proud to follow in their footsteps. My husband, daughter and son-in-law, and our two beautiful grandsons, live and work in Leek. Like so many Leekensians they want to make it their forever home. The pandemic has left a heavy legacy on our town, and in our communities. We have lost loved ones to the virus and many are still battling the scourge of long Covid. The local economy continues to make efforts to rebuild, needing our support more than
ever. Despite the continuing success of the NHS vaccine programme, the future remains uncertain, with the continuing emergence of different strains of the virus in various parts of the country. I would urge everyone to continue to follow public health guidelines. Now, more than ever, we all need to be supporting each other. I want us to all sign up to a strong message. I intend to be a clear voice that says Leek is a friendly, welcoming town. Cllr Swindlehurst went on to announce the charities she aims to support during her civic year: It s a long-held tradition that Mayors have a Mayor s Charity fund. For the forthcoming year I shall be fund raising for two charities in particular Borderland Voices and Family Action.
LOCAL MUSICIANS
Second single for music duo
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Moorlands duo have released the second single from their debut album complete with a music video shot in the area. Musicians Chris and Gemma Rushton, who live in Cheddleton, formed their band Unlucky Strike during the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020. The pair, who both work as musicians and music teachers in Stoke-on-Trent and the Moorlands, created an entire album together, releasing their debut single City Beautiful, in March.
Now their new release, This Drinking Game, is available to download and stream online. Gemma said: We shot the video for This Drinking Game near our home in Cheddleton and at other locations around the Moorlands. It was a lot of fun to do and much easier to work on both recording the song and creating the video now the pandemic restrictions are lifting. We had a great response to City Beautiful and we re hoping people will enjoy the slightly edgier This Drinking Game just as much.
JOKE TIME
H
ere our local Jester Chris Sproston, shares with us some of his jokes to help create a few laughs:
Time for a giggle
LOCAL MUSICIANS Unlucky Strike have live streamed weekly gigs via Facebook for the last six months, and featured on the Leek Blues Zoom session for the first time this week. The duo is also set to perform at the Leek Blues and Americana Festival in October, as well as preparing for more live gigs in line with current Covid guidance. Chris said: We really enjoyed performing on the Leek Blues Zoom Session to a fantastic, fun audience and we re looking forward to seeing everyone in person in the autumn. We can t wait to get back to live gigs we ve both played in bands since we were teenagers, so we ve definitely missed it during the lockdowns. It s exciting to make plans for performing live again after all this time. This Drinking Game was released recently, visit: www.unluckystrike.co.uk to listen for free on Spotify or see the video on YouTube. The single is also available to buy now online.
PoeTrY
W
hen the streets are silent, and the night is dark,
Don t do cruel things, just for a lark. It isn t clever to cause pain, Pause for a while, think again. It could be you, it could be me, So next time you see someone lying there, Don t just jeer, give them a smile, show you care. The world for them, is a hopeless place, Let us behave more like the human race, Who knows what gave them this path to choose,
Maybe they were driven there win or lose. We all need a reason for living. The times for them get harder and harder, Some fought for their countries with memories to bare, They can t forget because they were there. We should be ashamed to mock their plight, As they face once more, the lonely night. Is this the price they have to pay, For their lost life of yesterday? Brenda Pascall Leek poet
Quizzes compiled by Paul Steele - email: pnsteele@aol.com. Paul's 'Which One?' quiz game is available on Amazon.
quiz corner
1 Anthony Hopkins 2 Plot 3 Pangolin 4 Blue Peter 5 Villareal 6 Rome 7 Imran Khan (now Pakistan MP) 8 Cubit 9 Rotterdam 10 Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry 11 Great Fire of London 12 Albatross 13 Friends 14 Anne Hathaway (in Shakespeare s will).15 Phil Mickelson 16 Chester 17 Nick Hancock 18 Billie Holiday 19 Niagara River 20 Porto
TALES FROM THE PAST
The eclipse of 1140
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am writing on the day that the country experienced a partial eclipse when the Sun was blocked by about 40 per cent with the best sighting appearing in the far north of Scotland. As it was a cloudy day in Leek it barely attracted much interest. It was a very different story on March 28, 1140 when the town was bang at the centre of a solar eclipse that passed through the area at just before 3pm. It lasted about five minutes. It was a very turbulent time in English history which would have added to the unease of the people of Leek. It was a period called the Anarchy when England was divided by civil war and local warlords took the opportunity to wreck havoc. The monarch of the time, Stephen was locked in conflict with Matilda, daughter of Henry 1st who had a stronger claim to the throne, but was barred because of her sex. The fighting quickly led to a breakdown in law and order. And then in the early spring of 1140, there was a total eclipse, recorded by William of Malmesbury in his Historia Novella. In his opinion this was a sign which foretold the capture of King Stephen in the Battle of Lincoln some time later. The Lenten eclipse was also reported in the Peterborough Chronicle as being on the thirteenth day before the start of April: After this, during Lent, the sun and the day darkened about the noon-tide of the day, when men were eating; and they lighted candles to eat by. Men were greatly wonder stricken. If the medieval townsfolk of Leek were
looking for an explanation they would not have found it among the local clergy or indeed in Europe. The real interest in explaining what was happening in the heavens was occurring in the Islamic world which was carrying on the scientific traditions of the Greeks and Romans. The House of Wisdom in Baghdad had produced tables of the movement of the Sun and Moon by the 9th century. At that time Al-Battani was undoubtedly one of the greatest Islamic medieval astronomers. He made precise predictions of eclipses, and worked on the phenomenon of parallax. If we mock the vision of the 12th century Leek resident cowering in the dark all those years ago, fearful of what was happening, perhaps we should think of the actions of some today fearful of what is happening in a time of pandemic believing falsehoods and denying a reality that has killed approaching 130,000 Britons. Bill Cawley Local Historian
CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE
What s in a pub name?
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he great and diverse pub scene that we are able to see in Leek today is a microcosm of the wider UK pub scene as a whole. Many towns have lost their array of differing styles of drinking establishments and although Leek has certainly lost some, it has also retained enough for us to be lucky enough to enjoy every day. You only have to look at the diverse range of pub names in our wonderful town to have a mini glimpse of British life, with a bit of history and heritage thrown into the mix for good measure. We have an example of the most common British pub name in The Red Lion in Market Place. The Red Lion is a popular feature on many heraldic Coats of Arms and was used as an easily recognizable pictorial sign outside inns and taverns before most ordinary folk could read and write. In a recent CAMRA survey, there are reckoned to be around 600 Red Lions still trading as public houses throughout the UK. Our very own Leek example has the obvious layout of a former coaching inn, where horsedrawn Royal Mail coaches would call, not only to drop off and collect important mail connecting the business and commerce of the day to other towns but to offer rest and refreshment to weary human travellers and horses alike. While most places have lost their historic coaching inns, The Red Lion together with the nearby Roebuck in Derby Street are quite easy to spot as former coaching inns and stand out from other pubs, as they both have a tall archway leading to a sizeable rear yard which would allow for the stabling of horses, while the building itself would often have several floors above the pub and outbuildings at the rear to accommodate the many travellers passing through. Until fairly recently Leek had a
pub with the second most common name in the UK (according to CAMRA figures) in The Royal Oak, which was situated on Buxton Road, on ground now occupied by the Pharmacy, between the Park Medical Practice and the Lidl store. A nod to Royalty is always a common theme in pub names and Leek still has a couple in that category. The Prince of Wales on the Wallbridge estate, which was obviously named after Prince Charles, as it was being built around the time of his investiture to inherit the title of the reigning monarch s eldest son in 1969. The new pub actually opened its doors the following year. The Blue Mugge on the corner of Osborne Street and Queen Street was formally called The Queen s Arms, again after being built around the time of Queen Victoria s accession the throne in 1837. Pubs are often named after skilled trade names and local occupations. Once again Leek has its very own examples of this theme in The Dyers Arms named after the extensive silk dyeing trade for which Leek became famous and is the only example of this pub name in the UK. The Silk Mill in Market Street and The Old Mill in Heywood Street and the new Mulberry Leaves near Sainsbury s have been named with a reference to Leeks former mighty silk industry. In case you didn t know, silkworms feed solely off mulberry leaves and many were commercially farmed in large glasshouses to provide a ready supply of silk for Leeks mills. And although a fairly newcomer to the Leek pub scene, The Cobblers in Russell Street is so named as it stands on the site of a former cobblers shop. Famous people, particularly politicians and military big hitters also feature in some of our local pub names. Obvious examples are The Wellington in Wellington Street, is named after The Duke of Wellington famed for commanding the victorious British troops at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, which in
present day Belgium. The Earl Grey on Ashbourne Road (which incidentally is soon to reopen) is probably named after the 1st Charles Grey (1729 1807) who fought in the American war of independence. His son the 2nd Earl Charles Grey, Baronet of Howick (1767 1845) was a Wig politician who rose to become Prime Minister in the 1830 s and was responsible for sweeping changes in British political life, including the Great Reform Act 1830, the Abolition of Slavery Act 1833 and went on to start a whole raft of reforms that led to various employment acts which eventually led to the end of child labour in the mines and factories. The Wilkes Head in St Edward Street is named after the member of parliament John Wilkes (1725 1798). He was famed for his controversial speeches and pamphlets which were mainly aimed against the rich and privileged classes, which got him into trouble on numerous occasions. The name Wilkes Head is spelt in slightly different ways in various places in and around the pub and in other publications, which can all be considered correct in different contextual circumstances. A more detailed biography of John Wilkes can be found on the wall to the left of the bar inside. The Abbey Inn at Abbey Green and The Priory on Abbots Road indicate Leeks historical ecclesiastical connection with the monks of former Dieulaclres Abbey which was destroyed during the ablution of the monasteries by Henry 8th. So you see Leek really does have it all, with a great and diverse range of pubs and bars, a great range and choice of beer, cider, wines, spirits and cocktails, and a great sense of our own industrial, political and military heritage but most of all, pride in our own town. Cheers! Steve Barton Chairman of the Staffordshire Moorlands branch of CAMRA
FITNESS
You can do this .
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f you are reading this then I am going to assume that you are a human being. A little ball of consciousness that resides in the most remarkable feat of engineering that ever existed, your body. Did you know that you already possess everything you could possibly need to burn body fat without slimming aids and super restrictive diets? Did you know that fat loss is relatively straightforward? My job as a personal trainer puts me directly on the front line in the battle of the bulge and in my time I have identified a few common obstacles that seem to trip a lot of people over. Knowledge / Consistency / Motivation? Knowledge - More often than not I find that people lack the basic fundamental knowledge of Energy Balance and how the body either stores calories (as body fat) or burns calories depending on how much energy you use over a period of time. To burn fat we need to create an energy deficit by consuming less calories via food and drink than our bodies require. That way our body will tap into its calorie stores aka body fat to acquire the energy it needs. There are no particularly good or bad foods and drinks for this. I always say the best foods for fat loss are the ones you can eat in moderation. For example, when did we last over-eat on vegetables? As a rule of thumb, real whole foods are better for fat loss because they will leave you feeling fuller for longer and supply your bodies with various vitamins and minerals to promote optimal health. Chocolate, crisps, cake and alcohol won t automatically make you fat. But the over consumption of them will. I bet we
have all fallen victim to a fast food binge in the past? Read the labels and check your calories to ensure you are staying in a calorie deficit if fat loss is the goal. Consistency - To get fat we have to overeat consistently for a period of time. If it took you a couple of months to put on a stone in body fat then it s not unreasonable to expect the same amount of time to lose it again. This is a marathon, not a sprint. You have to keep going and not get disheartened and go on a binge because it hasn t happened straight away. Every time you over-eat you are prolonging your time it will take to reach your goal. Motivation? - Why the question mark? I ve included this because a lot of people feel they need more motivation but in actual fact they need discipline. To quote an inspirational friend of mine: If the world relied solely on motivation then nothing would get done. They are very right. Motivation is nice to have. I hope this article motivates you. But that s as far as it goes. What we really need to do is look inward and find the discipline to carry on going despite not always feeling like we want too. With some knowledge, consistency and discipline you are capable of anything you put your mind to. If fat loss is your priority put these three things first and let your body take care of the rest. JP Body Transformation Coach
PATIENT LOCALITY GROUP
Please be kind to the practice staff
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t is pleasing to report that the two dose vaccination programme being carried out by the Leek & Biddulph Primary Care Network is nearing completion for those aged 50 and over and clinically vulnerable. As announced by Government those aged over 23 are now being urged to book their first vaccination, which in the main are being carried out at larger centres but those unable to travel can contact their GP to arrange a local vaccination. No doubt by the time this is published all over 18 s will be called for their first vaccination in order for the national target of the end of July to be achieved. If you are called to attend please keep your appointment and it is critical to have both jabs to ensure the best possible resistance to the virus. These achievements have only been made possible by the support of numerous volunteers and the additional workload taken on by the GP practice staff who have worked many additional hours to ensure that Leek and Biddulph patients have got their vaccine as soon as possible in line with the national distribution of vaccines. In view of the significant changes taking place in the management of NHS locally with the formation of the Integrated Care System (ICS) for Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent the Leek and Biddulph Patient Locality Group have made recommendations regarding how patient engagement should become a key aspect of all decision making from ICS Board level downwards. The Leek and Biddulph Patient Locality Group has
also recommended that the Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) for Northern Staffordshire should have two patient representatives, one from North Staffs and one from Stoke on Trent. There is a period of consultation taking place currently with an on line survey which closes on July 4, 2021. David Pearson Vice Chairman of ICS and Tracey Sherwan, Director of Communication have been charged with developing recommendations on Patient Engagement to the ICS Board by October 2021 for implementation from April 2022. Leek and Biddulph Patient Locality Group at their last meeting discussed at length the concerns of practice staff at the verbal abuse they are experiencing which has certainly increased since some of the lockdown restrictions have been lifted. The problem seems to revolve around obtaining appointments. Each practice patient participation group is reviewing the problem with practice staff and a poster/ leaflet is being finalised for incorporation on practice websites, notice boards and for handing to patients. To emphasise the pressure that one practice has recently experienced, three reception staff handled 300 telephone calls from 8am to 11am. It is hoped that patients requiring test results, other information or Covid vaccination appointments will phone later in the day thus enabling staff to concentrate on those needing urgent appointments to see a clinician. Patients please be kind to the practice staff they are working under extreme pressure with limited opportunities to relax with their families. Bas Pickering Leek and Biddulph Patient Locality Group
NEW PLANTERS
New garden display for town centre
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vacant piece of land in Leek has finally been filled with eyepleasing street décor. The piece of land, at the bottom of Russell Street with it s junction with Haywood Street, has been on the Leek Town Council agenda for many years. There had been much debate over the years surrounding what to do with the site. Some ideas have included a memorial bench and garden displays. The piece of land has finally
now been developed into a raised garden display. Town councillor Stephen Wales managed the delivery of the project, while Moorlands Climate Action and Royal Horticultural Society member, Jane Tattersall advised on the planting of the site. Jane said: We had a number of important factors to take into account. We had to choose plants that would support pollinators, would look colourful and be enjoyable for the town s residents and visitors.
The project, which was funded by the Leek Town Council, is intended to celebrate the town s resilience and strength of community during this last year.
GARDENING
Burnets
for the Border
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urnets, or Sanguisorbas to use their proper name, come in a wide range of heights and spreads and are easy plants to grow, flowering on and off through the summer. They come in shades of red, pink and white and many have large, impressive flowers. Perhaps the showiest is the variety Lilac Squirrel who s long, dangling, feather-boa flowers in glowing lilac pink adorn the 3-4ft / 90-120cm tall plants from July to September. Like most Sanguisorbas the leaves are very attractive from the moment they unfurl like a fern frond in March until they die back in winter. The more upright flowers of the variety Pink Brushes are a softer pink, and the pure white flowers of the Japanese Burnet (Sanguisorba obtusa alba) grow on plants that are just 2ft / 60cm tall. Other burnets have smaller, less showy flowers but more of them at a time and often held tall on waving stems that rarely need staking. One of the loveliest is also one of the tallest the deep red Arnhem is 5ft / 150cm tall and in peak flower in early summer. Pink Elephant is tall, and a soft shade of pink, Burr Blanc and Canadensis are white and all of these look wonderful waving in the breeze at the back of the border. For the front of the border, Rock and Roll is a good choice as he stays to around 2ft / 60cm tall and there s even a variegated one with red flowers and green and cream
leaves called Shiro Fukarin. Ideally, Sanguisorbas prefer a deep, rich, soil that holds some moisture in the summer. They also cope with my poor, dry sand pretty well. They like some sun, but light, part or dappled shade is fine. Sanguisorbas are tough and hardy and form bigger clumps each year. You can divide them in spring but be warned an old clump has a very tough rootstock and is difficult to break up. They benefit from a light feed in spring and an occasional feed until August. We ve not noticed any particular pests or diseases affecting them in the garden so all in all they are quite easy to grow. Allow 2-2 ½ ft / 60-75cm between the taller varieties and a bit less for the short ones. Sanguisorbas are becoming very popular with nurseries and garden designers so you should find a good number of varieties available to choose from at a Plant Hunters Fair. Janet and I run Plant Hunters Fairs, specialist plant fairs at wonderful locations offering special reduced entry rates on the plant fair dates. Plant Fair dates for 2021: Cholmondeley Castle Gardens, Malpas on Sunday, July 18, Garden and Fair £4 (usually £8.50); Capesthorne Hall, Macclesfield on Sunday, August 15, Garden and Fair £3.50; The Dorothy Clive Garden on Sunday, August 29 and Monday, August 30, Garden and Fair £4 (usually £9). Entry to all these fairs is by advance ticket only. For further information and to book tickets go online to: www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk Martin Blow
YOUNG FARMERS
Miles and miles for club funds
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oung farmers across the county, including members of the Leek club, have been putting their best feet forward to raise funds. Members of the Staffordshire County Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (SCFYFC) have, between them, covered more than 1,300 miles across the beautiful countryside in the county. The campaign, which was launched by the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (NFYFC), Give it Some YFC Welly Relay has helped to raise over £1,000 to help to continue to deliver the much-needed service to young people in the rural communities across Staffordshire. A spokesman for SCFYFC said: The County Federations funding was affected during the last membership year following the cancellation of all its spring and summer fundraising events. Despite continuing to deliver services to members in a virtual manner, including two Virtual Rally s and a Virtual County Show, the impact of the pandemic has been greatly felt, with only 33 per cent of members rejoined for the current membership year.
With face to face events and activities still on hold this fundraising effort has been very important to bring members together. Staffordshire YFC took on the challenge and planned to cover 500 miles in one month, but hit that target in just one week. The total miles covered was 1,318 and clubs who covered 35 miles or more are set to benefit from this fundraising campaign. The members in Staffordshire covered the miles by walking, biking, horse riding and one member, Henry Walker of Ashley YFC, even took to the water and clocked up nautical miles on his sailing boat. Local beauty spots including Dimmingsdale near Alton, the canal at Weston and Marshes Hill in Brown Edge provided some great viewpoints, frosty mornings, perfect sunsets and sunny daytime strolls. Anyone interested in supporting Staffordshire YFC and their Give it Some YFC Welly campaign can visit the JustGiving page as there is still time left to donate. www.justgiving.com/fundraising/staffordsh ire-yfc.
BEE FRIENDLY LEEK
Encouraging a network of eco communities
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eek has been declared as a bee friendly town. The principle of a bee friendly town was fixed by the London based charity Bee Friendly Trust, which is looking to work with towns around the country to establish more areas to sustain bees and other pollinators. Bee Friendly towns meet certain criteria, such as, creating bee friendly schools, sharing seeds and being creative in supporting bees and other pollinators in gardens and plots. Town and district councillor Cawley, who has been behind the town getting bee friendly status, contacted the trust last year and has kept the organisation informed of developments such as the Bee Hotel scheme that he and Cllr Taylor have supported at Westwood First School in Leek.
Leek joins Arundel in Sussex, Tring in Herts and Kenilworth in Warwickshire as the first four designated bee friendly towns. Cllr Cawley said: It is an honour to receive this recognition. Leek is the most northerly of the four towns. I think it is important to make sure that the award is not seen as tokenistic and we see this as the start of a process and not the end. I think it is important that we have established a group and we look forward to sharing experience and solutions. Things that have worked as well as things that have not worked. After all this is a learning opportunity as much as anything else. We would want to work with local groups such as the well organised bee keeper organisations. One intention I think all Leek town councillors will support is encouraging all the schools in Leek to be a network of eco communities.
adrian wilson
Independent Landrover and 4x4 Specialists Staffordshire
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reflections coaching
My secret to slowing down the passing of time
S
omeone once said to me that the reason time seems to go quicker as you get older is because the older you get the less new experiences you have. Consider that for a moment. Your childhood years stretched on forever. It is a constant time of new learning and not just through school, every holiday you took, different places you visited, different experiences you had. Experiences like your school trips, geography field trips, museums, galleries. A time when you may have learned to ride a bike, to roller skate or to horse-ride. Perhaps your first time as a guest at a wedding, taking part in a play or climbing a tree. The list just goes on and on. By the time you re married, have kids or are firmly embedding into a career, the new experiences have stopped being daily, weekly or even monthly. When did you last have an adventure? I m not suggesting you take up a hazardous pursuit, as a coach I like to lead by example and that one is definitely not for me. But it s about trying new things, going to new places and having new experiences - basically creating new memories. Think of it as a bucket list but with a more immediate deadline. It s a list to tackle this year, or in the next five years. My current one has 50 things to do before I m sixty and I choose about ten to tackle each year. It can be a simple as learning a new skill, or visiting a new place. My favourite for this year is going on holiday
to a Scottish island. Nowhere big like Skye, but a proper little island, surrounded by sea, but passed ones have included visiting Yorkshire Sculpture Park, kayaking on the sea and doing stand up comedy. What s on your list? I would so love to hear what s on your list, please feel free to email me and I ll do my best to reply to all of you individually. If you need help defining your goals or they simply feel unachievable then I m happy to help, simply give me a call on 07714 216388 and we can have a chat (outdoors if you wish) or zoom to see if I can help. I am a Creative Freedom coach and author of Don t Just Dream It Achieve It! (A great way to kickstart those goals is available from my online shop at: https://carolyntraffordart.ecwid.com/Dont-JustDream-It-Achieve-It-Book-p196854491.
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