Leek Life Issue 51

ISSUE 51

£2 WHERE SOLD

INSIDE THIS EDITION OF LEEK LIFE

Life

Leek Arts Festival is coming back See page 6

Sunday Supplement See page 12

Gerald’s inspiring life story so far See pages 22-25

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ISSUE 51

Editor s Letter ...................................5

Focus On .........................................22

Leek Arts Festival..............................6

Quiz Corner .....................................26

Readers Pictures ..............................8

Leek Town Mayor............................27

What s on ........................................10

Fox Networking ...............................27

Sunday Supplement.........................12

Patient Locality Group ....................28

Leek Town Crier ..............................13

Gardening .......................................29

Leek Lions .......................................14

Joke Time........................................30

Moorlands Climare Action ..............16

Royal British Legion........................30

Campaign for Real Ale......................17

Reflections Coaching.......................32

Theatre............................................20

Scouts..............................................32

Tales From The Past ........................21

Financial Matters............................34

4 Leek Life Issue 51

EDITOR S LETTER

Thank you to all our contributors 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

Did you know that you can read Leek Life online?

Visit issuu.com/ timesechoandlife

Find us on Facebook search for Leek Life Magazine

Happy New Year to you all from everyone here at the Leek Life Magazine!

Let s hope this year brings at least some kind of normality back into our lives. It s been a tough almost two years for so many my heart goes out to all who have been affected by the pandemic in whatever way they have.

We can but forge ahead and look to the future which will hopefully be brighter for all.

Here we have yet another packed edition of the Leek Life Magazine. We have so many wonderful contributors from within our lovely community who make the Leek Life magazine what it is all about life in Leek. Thank you to you all.

I love reading, while editing, the various views of our contributors, as well as the advice and guidance some of them kindly offer from the perspective of their expertise.

I hope you too will enjoy reading their submissions. If you think you could contribute to our magazine, please get in touch with me on email at belinda@timesandecho.co.uk.

Meanwhile, have you spotted

our new publication of the Leek & Moorlands Echo newspaper yet?

We launched the all new weekly independently owned and locally written newspaper in November and it is packed with lots of news, events, sport, and much more covering Leek and the wider Moorlands.

See page 7 for a list of our current stockists more to be confirmed once finalised.

And please, lots of folk have been asking and/or suggesting a new weekly locally-focused paper for Leek and we have provided just that. So please support us and help us keep it going by purchasing the newspaper each week, letting us know about your news and events, and to businesses, please advertise with us.

You can get in touch with us at news@timesandecho.co.uk.

But for now, I hope you enjoy reading this latest edition of the Leek Life Magazine.

Until next time take care!

Belinda

Front cover photo by Brett Trafford Photography

www.bretttrafford.com Leek Life Issue 51 5

LEEK ARTS FESTIVAL

Festival set to bounce back after two years

T

ickets for events in one of the Moorlands biggest celebrations of artistic talent are now on sale after organisers confirmed it will bounce back this May pandemic restrictions allowing.

Leek Arts Festival has been unable to go ahead for two years in succession because of Covid-19.

But tickets for key events in the 2022 Leek Arts Festival are now on sale at The Foxlowe Arts Centre, and are also available online through the festival website.

Artists confirmed so far for this year s Leek Arts Festival include former Fairground Attraction star Eddi Reader, surrealist comic Boothby Graffoe, parody supremo Scott Doonican - frontman of the hugely popular comedy band The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican - and Leek Arts Festival regulars Fairport Convention.

Festival chairman Phil Edmeades said: Covid -19 forced us to cancel our plans for 2020 just a few short weeks before the start of the programme - and the festival for 2021 never even got off the ground.

We re delighted to confirm that, subject to no new Covid disasters, Leek Arts Festival 2022 will be going ahead and that a number of major artists have already been signed to perform.

We ve also got plenty of interest from local groups and individual artists who are keen to be involved, although there s always room for more in our programme which will run from late April through to early June.

6 Leek Life Issue 51

Anyone wishing to put on an event for Leek Arts Festival 2022 is being asked to email full details to philedmeades@gmail.com no later than February 11, 2022, to ensure inclusion in the printed version of the programme.

Phil added: We are aware that a small number of people who bought physical tickets for Eddi Reader, Boothby Graffoe and Fairport Convention in 2020 are still holding on to them.

These tickets will not be valid for gigs in Festival 2022 and should be returned to the point of purchase for a full refund.

For further information go online to: www.leekartsfestival.co.uk.

Eddi Reader

Scott Doonican

Fairport Convention

Boothby Graffoe

LEEK

ECHO www.timesechoandlife.co.uk

We launched this all new independently owned and locally written newspaper on November 17, 2021, and have brought our readers weekly editions, which are out every Wednesday, packed with lots of news, sport, events and photos of goings-on in our wonderful community.

Do you have a story to tell?

Email us at news@timesandecho.co.uk Would you like to advertise with us?

Email tom@timesandecho.co.uk

Here's a list of our Leek & Moorlands Echo stockists so far - more to come when confirmed:

Asda, Springfield Road. Co-op, West Street. Abi Convenience, Southbank Street. Parkers Newsagents, Broad Street. Gill Newsagents, on the corner of Broad Street and Salisbury Street. West Street News, 84 West Street.

Mill Street Food and Wine, 162 Mill Street. Vadco Bargain Store, on the corner of Ball Haye Road and Rosebank Street. The Green Ball Store, Ball Haye Green. McColl s, Abbotts Road. Premier, Queens Drive. Spar Petrol Station, Ashbourne Road. Smithfield News, The Smithfield Centre. Wallbridge Store, Wallbridge Precinct.

Ladderedge News, Ladderedge. Endon Store, 35-37 Station Road. Co-op, Main Road, Endon.

READERS' PICTURES

W

E live in a most beautiful scenic area of Middle England and we love to see pictures from our readers which they have snapped when out and about in the local area and even further afield.

Here is just a selection of some fabulous snaps which have been kindly sent in to us lately.

HAVE you snapped a stunning local scene recently? Email your pictures to news@timesandecho.co.uk.

Hartington Signal Box. Photo by Mark Chesters

The Roaches.

Photo by Cliff Salt

Photo by Alan Lees

Photo by Cliff Salt 8 Leek Life Issue 51

READERS' PICTURES

n x. y k s Moorlands countryside.

Photo by Cliff Salt Pulling through Apesford on the Churnet Valley line. Photo by Cliff Salt

Rudyard Lake. Photo by Laurence Jones

s

Consall Nature Reserve. Photo

by Deborah Hodson-Turner

Rudyard Lake. Photo by Cliff Salt Leek Life Issue 51 9

What s on WHAT S ON

I

t s most certainly fantastic that community events and activities are making a welcome comeback. Here s just some of what s coming up in our area.

Please note that the information in this feature was correct at the time of print but all events are subject to change. Please check with the venues for updates.

Do you have a public/community event coming up which you would like to appear in our What s On feature? Email what, when, where, etc, to our Editor Belinda at hargreavespr@outlook.com.

Regular Events Leek Morris Dancers 7.15pm-9pm at the Scout Hut, Clerk Bank, Leek. Every Friday. All welcome.

Details: 07875 406120.

Market & Car Boot

Sellers set-up from 7am-7.30am, visitors 7.30am until noon at Cattle Market, Junction Road, Leek. Remaining Winter opening dates: January 30, February 13, February 27, March 13, March 27. Details: www.facebook.com/leeksundaymarketandcar boot or www.leekcarboot.co.uk.

Borderland Voices Creative Writing at Leek Health Centre every Wednesday at 10.30am-12.30pm, plus Expressive Art at 1.30pm-3.30pm. Details: www.borderlandvoices.org.uk.

Coming up

Saturday, January 22

Live at The Maude, Clerk Bank, Leek. With A Thousand Wolves plus Vertigo Fish and Dog Train. Tickets £5. Doors 7pm.

Sunday, January 23 Live Music 5pm at The Fountain Inn, Leek.

With John Barks.

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.

Yoga Chair Yoga at Trinity Church on Thursdays at 9.30am-10.30am. Yoga at Trinity Church on Thursday at 6.45pm-7.45pm. Yoga at The Maude on Friday at 9.30am-10.30am. Details: www.facebook.com/yogamindchairyoga 10 Leek Life Issue 51

Friday, January 28 Rock Night at the Winking Man, Upperhulme, near Leek. With live music from Breaking Poynt, plus disco by DJ Dodge Ferguson. Admission £5 on the door. Details: 01538 300361.

Saturday, January 29 Pub Quiz at 5pm-7pm at The Prince of Wales, Fernwood Drive, Leek. Cost £2.50 includes chip butty. Proceeds to Fluffy Butts Rescue. Details: www.facebook.com/events/1575583296159002

Sunday, January 30 Live Music 4pm at The Cock Inn, Derby Street, Leek. With Acoustic Anarchy.

WHAT S ON

What s On at the Foxlowe Arts Centre

Art Exhibitions: Reflections with Colin Grimes and Darren Roberts. Running until February 26 in the first floor gallery is open Wednesday to Saturday, between 10am and 4pm. Plus art in the Drawing Room Cafe by Bernie Rutter. Threads & Tipping Vessels exhibition of prints is running until March 12. Cafe is open Monday to Saturday, 10am-4pm, plus the first Sunday of the month.

Sunday, January 23 Friday, February 4

Soul Night 7.30pm at Knypersley Cricket Club. £5 admission.

Friday, February 11 Charity Event 7.30pm at The Silk Mill, Market Street, Leek. DJ, raffles and sales. In memory of Marcus Birks. Tickets £10 adults and £5 children.

Details: www.facebook.com/events/430556558859287.

Valentine s Masquerade Ball 7.30pm at The Three Horseshoes County Inn & Spa, Blackshaw Moor, near Leek. Details and tickets: 01538 300296.

Wednesday, February 16 Fundraising Quiz Night. 7.30pm at the Silk Mill, Market Street, Leek. Organised by Leek Town Mayor councillor Lyn Swindlehurst. Quiz all about Leek by local historian Bill Cawley. Teams of up to four people. Cost £10 per person. Details: lynswindlehurst2@hotmail.co.uk or calling 07800 867940. Valentine s Masquerade Ball 7.30pm at The Three Horseshoes County Inn & Spa, Blackshaw Moor, near Leek. Details and tickets: 01538 300296.

Saturday, March 5

Eighties Night 7pm until 1am at Moorville Hall, Leek Road, Werrington. Over 21s. Fancy dress welcome. Tickets £5. Details: 01782 302326.

Friday, March 11 Charity Night at Hotel Rudyard, near Leek.

Proceeds to Target Ovarian Cancer. Tickets: 07518 074185.

Mark Watson. Comedy. Tickets £20. Doors 7pm for 8pm.

Friday, January 28 Gary Delaney Gary in Punderland is Back.

Comedy. SOLD OUT. Doors 7pm for 8pm.

Thursday, February 3 Leek Comedy Club. With Eddy Brimson, Darius Davies, Tom Little, Jacob Nussey and compere Harriet Dyer. Tickets £8. Over 18s only. Doors 7.15pm for 8pm.

Saturday, February 12 Stephen Bailey: Live. Comedy. Tickets £14. Doors 7.15pm for 8pm.

Sunday, February 13 The Damn Truth. Music. Tickets £14. Doors 7.30pm for 8pm.

Thursday, February 17 Truly, Jack the Ripper. Theatre. Tickets £13.

7.30pm.

Friday, February 18 Ian McNabb (The Icicle Works) Solo Show.

Music. Tickets £16.50. Doors 7.30pm.

Sunday, February 20 Bob Log III. Music. Tickets £12.50. Doors 7.30pm.7.30pm.

Friday, February 25 Nosferatu. Theatre. Tickets £13.50. 7.30pm For further details and to purchase tickets for any of the Foxlowe Arts Centre events, go online to: https://foxloweartscentre.org.uk.

Leek Life Issue 51 11

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT

Monthly shopping addition in town

E

very month in our Moorlands town of Leek we have an additional shopping experience in our town centre.

The Totally Locally Sunday Supplement takes place every first Sunday of the month and includes an artisan market with more than 50 stalls of handmade crafts and foodie treats.

Running between 10.30am3pm in Leek town centre, lots of the towns independent shops, cafes and pubs are also open and there is also live music to help enhance the atmosphere.

Here we have photos of just some of the friendly traders at the December Sunday Supplement.

12 Leek Life Issue 51

LEEK TOWN CRIER

“Together we can beat anything”

I

t s that time again to step out of the old year and into the new year.

Always looking at the past adventures and, indeed, the not so adventurous. As Leek Town Crier, there wasn t too much for me to get involved with or be a part of.

We, as a town, have to feel proud of the memorial parades and services organised by the town council and the Leek branch of the Royal British Legion. I played no part in these onto to attend with the Leek Town Council.

Always a sad but proud moment for the whole town of Leek, at the Nicholson Memorial then in the afternoon, at the Memorial in Haregate.

I remember also that constant fear that the pandemic threw at all of us and the fear now as a new strain emerged some weeks ago.

The footfall throughout the town is proof of this. When things began to get better for all of us with the lifting of certain measures, we all looked forward to getting just a little bit back to normal.

Small businesses began to see some rise in custom, albeit small but a beginning but is now pushed back into the realms of the fear factor.

As the town crier, I pop into some small shops and am told of the overwhelming frustration and, indeed, fear of the future from many.

But I also get the feeling of a determination from the small business community to stand and fight for their livelihoods and future. But not all is doom and gloom, we are seeing new shops opening, even the Earl Grey pub on the Ashbourne Road reopened on December 12.

Leek Town Crier Bill Lomas A new bistro in Stanley Street.

On a different note, I meet hundreds of people who are visiting, not just from Stoke-onTrent but further afield, people moving in to swell the population to our wonderful town.

But let s not forget there are many people who have to use the food bank, are looking for work (although there are vacancies) homeless people, mental health issues.

I met a young man in town recently whose mother has dementia now and he has to look after her. She doesn t recognise him any more. He will have to move out when she passes to single accommodation which is very hard to come by. He told me that he gets very depressed prompting the thoughts of suicide. Only words of encouragement is all that I can give him.

On a happier note, my Saturday trips around town and the Sunday Supplement Market

always give many children, and indeed adults, a sense of light hearted fun and laughter.

Over the past year, I have given thousands of sweets and toys, not only to local children but to visiting children also.

Many comments from locals and visitors alike give the taste of what kind of town this is when the local town crier is out and about giving a positive input of fun and laughter.

Please don t play down the role of the town crier as they are a very important part of any town or city.

2021 now gone. Let s keep that sparkle that is the spirit of Leek and carry it into the new year to come. Divided, we fall, united we grow stronger.

Be more aware of the needs of others in our town and if we can help in any way, let s do it.

Goodbye old, hello new.

Together we can beat anything.

Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!

Leek Town Crier Bill Lomas

Leek Life Issue 51 13

LEEK LIONS

Packed festive season for the Lions

A

fundraising group has been out and about over the festive season bringing festive cheer by escorting Santa to various events and venues.

The Leek Lions had a packed December visiting various venues in their ongoing fundraising and community efforts.

Lions member Lynda Demaid-Jones said: Our Christmas activities have been restricted but we have enjoyed ourselves.

The Christmas parcels were welcomed by everyone, while Santa duties included at Blackshaw Moor County First School and Beresford Memorial First School - not sure who enjoyed those visits most, Santa or the pupils.

We had a Christmas Lunch with members of the Leek Stroke Club at the Bridgend Garage Cafe which was very enjoyable.

As Santa was unable to visit us on this day, Lion President Alan distributed gifts to our guests and the club.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their continued support.

We hope everyone has had an enjoyable Christmas and wish you all a peaceful and healthy New Year 2022.

Here is an overview of the Leek Lions Club Christmas activities and Santa duties: November 19: The club joined in the fun at the Winter Welcome Event at the Maude Institute.

December 2: Collected the food parcels from Phil and Amanda, which Morrisons kindly donated.

December 9: Santa duties at Blackshaw Moor County First School.

December 11 and 12: Visit to the Rudyard Lake League of Friends.

December 13: Joined the Rudyard Lake League of Friends with the pupils of Active Wellbeing School based in Longsdon.

December 16: Santa duties at Beresford Memorial First School in Leek.

December 17: Christmas Lunch with members of The Leek Stroke Club at the Bridgend Cafe.

December 18 and 19: More Santa duties with the Rudyard Lake League of Friends.

December 22: Finished off with a Christmas Meal at the So Thai Restaurant in Leek.

14 Leek Life Issue 51

LEEK LIONS

Leek Life Issue 51 15

MOORLANDS CLIMATE ACTION

Gearing up to be a plastic free town

Mark Sidebotham co-owner of Waste Not Want Not in Leek which has become a Plastic Free Champion for the town

A

group in Leek is aiming for the Moorlands town to be recognised as a plastic free community.

Moorlands Climate Action has begun the process to hopefully gain the recognition from the UK network Plastic Free Communities.

One business, Waste Not Want Not, which is situated in St Edward Street, has already become a Plastic Free Champion as part of the initiative.

Moorlands Climate Action member Sally Perry is taking the lead on the plastic free campaign for the town.

Sally told the Leek & Moorlands Echo: Plastic Free Communities is a UK wide network created by Surfers Against Sewage to try to free communities from a reliance on single-use plastics.

It is not about removing all plastics from our lives, it is about kicking our addiction to avoidable single-use plastic and changing the system that produces it.

Throwaway plastics last a 16 Leek Life Issue 51

lifetime in the environment causing pollution, injury and death.

In some parts of the ocean there is more plastic than plankton.

Using less plastic isn t just about cleaning up our environment. 99 per cent of plastic is fossil fuel derived and carbon emissions from plastic production are set to triple in the next 30 years.

Sally added: Leek is at the beginning of it s journey to becoming a Plastic Free Community.

To achieve this status there are several things we need to do. We need support of the town council and also need local businesses to become Plastic Free Champions, swapping out three items of single- plastics for alternatives. Waste Not Want Not is our first champion.

We are also looking for organisations, clubs etc to become Community Allies.

These can be schools, churches, Scout and Guide groups, sports clubs, Rotary club, choirs, youth clubs.

The list is endless. So far 4th Leek Scouts have made a pledge to reduce their use of single-use plastics.

So you can see we have a long way to go on our journey and if anyone can support us in anyway that would be great.

For further information about the national initiative, go online to plasticfree.org.uk.

To keep up to date with Moorlands Climate Action, find the group on Facebook.

CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE

“Support your local pubs as best you can”

I

would like to begin by wishing each and everyone of our readers a very Happy, Peaceful and Healthy New Year. Let s just hope that 2022 brings a bit more peace, harmony and stability to the pub trade.

It has been an awful two years trading for most of the licensed trade and the whole brewing industry. With the various restrictions imposed by the Government I really do feel the pub trade (which is loosely grouped together as the hospitality industry in official speak) has been hit hardest of all, with draconian and sometimes almost impossible trading conditions that pubs were allowed or not allowed to operate.

At the time of writing this article, the powers that be in Whitehall are still dithering about what to do next so that the first few months of 2022 may be as bad or even worse than last year s lockdown and following restrictions.

If and when we are allowed back to some kind of normality, support your local pubs as best you can by visiting, getting bums on seats and putting some much-needed money in the till.

You can be guaranteed your custom will be gratefully received by all the fantastic range of local pubs and bars we are lucky enough to have in our own town of Leek and the wider Moorlands.

Thank goodness it is not all local doom and gloom news to report though.

It was really heartening to see the Earl Grey in Ashbourne Road reopen its doors on Sunday, December 12 after some 20 plus months of closure.

Also we give a hearty congratulations to The Red Lion Cheddleton, who have been voted our winter Pub of the Season for the Moorlands area. Our local committee were very impressed with how landlord Pete and the whole team have turned around the fortunes of this main road pub in the centre of the village. It now boasts good beer, good food and excellent service from the whole team of bar and waiting on staff.

A small quiet informal presentation of our trophy was made at the pub on Saturday, November 13. Well done to all at The Red Lion.

Let s just hope we can all comfortably and safely raise a glass together soon.

Cheers!

Steve Barton Chairman of the Staffordshire Moorlands branch of CAMRA Leek Life Issue 51 17

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THEATRE

Four theatre shows set for the Foxlowe stage

A

series of theatre shows are coming to a community-run arts centre in Leek.

From the Truly, Jack the Ripper to Owdilocks and the Three Bears there is set to be some interesting and enthralling theatre at the Foxlowe Arts Centre this Winter and Spring.

Michael Quine, who organises the theatre at the Foxlowe, said: February sees a fascinating duo of horror/thriller work, ideal for these dark evenings, and I m so pleased we were able to book them close together.

On Thursday, February 17, we have Truly, Jack the Ripper. Think Victorian London,1888, where Jack the Ripper is committing his audacious crimes. The murders were never solved, and the legends surrounding these crimes have captured public imagination to the present day.

Join Inspector Frederick Abberline of Scotland Yard as he lives through the horror and examines theories surrounding the true identity of the infamous Saucy Jack, the Whitechapel Horror himself.

Adapted from classic stories based around the Ripper theme, including The Lodger.

Theatrical Victorian storytelling at its finest.

Don t Go into the Cellar theatre company bring new adaptations of nineteenth-century literature s greatest ghost and horror stories to modern-day audiences. This is the company s first visit to Leek.

The following week, Live & Local will bring Nosferatu to the Foxlowe Arts Centre on Friday, February 25.

Michael said: Nosferatu is one of the silent

20 Leek Life Issue 51

film era s masterpieces. This screening of the original 1922 film (based on the Dracula story) will feature a new music score performed live by acclaimed soundscapers Minima, a Bristol based quartet who use instrumentation including cello, double bass, baritone guitar, acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, autoharp, dulcimer, synthesizer, glockenspiel and drum kit to create a unique live experience.

Its eerie Gothic feel and chilling performance from Max Shrek as the vampire set the template for many horror films that followed. Darkly humorous and tender too, this is a story of yearning and the search for fulfilment.

I saw Minima working with Hitchcock s 1927 The Lodger a couple of years ago, and I was able to watch Truly, Jack the Ripper on video a few weeks ago and found both of them very gripping: I can recommend them very strongly.

The Owdilocks and the Three Bears will be performed at the Foxlowe Arts Centre on Friday, March 25; while Rob Gee will return with Kevin King of Egypt on Thursday, April 21.

Tickets are available for all these shows at the Foxlowe itself and online at wegottickets.com.

Michael added: While the Covid show seems set to run and run, we re still of course taking great care with all the appropriate safeguards.

To find out more and to be kept up to date on what s coming to the Foxlowe Arts Centre, go online to: https://foxloweartscentre.org.uk

TALES FROM THE PAST

Leek’s first chippy

G

eorge Orwell believed that the existence of fish and chips prevented serious disturbances and even revolution during the period of poverty and unemployment in the 1930s.

Fish and Chips was a cheap and readily available food which at least kept bellies full and minds away from radical solutions.

During the Second World War Fish and Chips remained one of the few foods not rationed so important did the government think the meal to national morale.

But when did the first chippy appear? Wikipedia thinks that the honour belongs to a restaurant in Mossley near Oldham in the 1860s although a rival claimant might be Joseph Malin a Jewish immigrant from Eastern Europe who opened a business in the East End selling fried fish and chipped potatoes which prior to that could only be found in Irish potato shops in the same decade.

It would seem that the quintessentially British dish might be the result of two immigrant cultures

the Irish and the Jewish where the tradition of frying fish to fall in line with religious observations and consumed after synagogue service on a Saturday morning came into Britain after Cromwell lifted the ban on Jewish immigrants in the 1650s.

The first chippy in Leek certainly existed by the 1880s. A police report mentions a nasty clash between two women in 1889 where a dispute in a fish and chip restaurant spilled out into violence.

Clara Fisher of Russell Street and her neighbour Sarah Burt got involved into a fight over space on a communal washing line when Clara s mother began to take down Sarah s washing.

Clara hit Sarah. Sarah then came out with a large knife and struck at Clara after cutting the line

down. The blow caught Clara behind the ear.

The origins of the dispute involved an argument that had developed in a line waiting for fish and chips at a shop in Leek where Sarah worked. It seemed that Sarah had not served Clara and resentment had grown after the snub.

Being a chip shop owner got a man off war service locally in 1918 where the importance of food when recognised by the clerk to the military tribunal. The chip shop owner had no male employee and was serving food to hundreds with large queues outside his shop.

It was decided that it was vital war work and the man was granted an exemption thereby avoiding some of the heaviest fighting of the war.

Leek Life Issue 51 21

FOCUS ON .

Local film-maker &

W

e have so many wonderful characters and organisations within our lovely community of Leek here we start a new Focus On feature about some of those wonderful folk.

We are starting this feature with Gerald Mee who has kindly set out his life story so far for us - from working as a pharmacist, serving in the Second World War, travelling to many foreign destinations, to becoming the gent always seen with his camera recording the many events across our community and beyond and winning many awards for it too!

I have visualised a number of goals during my lifetime in both work and recreation. Although having an interest in Leek s industry and my own (Hammersley) family connections in dyeing and going so far as to register at Leeds University for a degree course in Colour Chemistry & Dyeing, I decided to change to Pharmacy.

On leaving school, with a Higher School Certificate in 1942 at the age of 16, I began my preuniversity training with John Martin, a Leek pharmacist. He was a friend of the family who had given me much help in my schoolboy hobby of photography.

My apprenticeship with John Martin lasted for the prescribed time of three years, or 2,000 hours (whichever was the shorter). During this time, I began to take photography more seriously and had tuition from this real master of the art, in both still and movie camerawork and processing. John Martin was already a very well-known figure in the photographic world, nationally and internationally and had been awarded associateships in both the Royal Photographic Society and the British Institute of Photography. It was while I was working with John that I acquired my basic knowledge of cinematography.

John was one of the founder members of the Stoke-on-Trent Amateur Cine Society and the driving force behind the society s pre-war major international achievements. In 1923 he bought one of the first Baby Pathe 9.5mm cine cameras. In 1925 my father bought this from John. I still possess it.

22 Leek Life Issue 51

During the first years of the war I served first as a messenger in the ARP and later worked in the ARP control room in the bowels of Leek s Town Hall. In 1943 I joined the Royal Observer Corps and served at the Observer Post Nan 3 in Rushton Spencer. I owned my first car.

Whilst with the John Martin organisation, I also developed an interest in Ophthalmic Optics and decided to study for a qualification in this field. I started a correspondence course, run by Mr. C. A. Scurr of New Barnet, over a two-year period. This required weekly study papers and practical courses at the North Staffs Technical College (later the Polytechnic and then becoming Staffordshire University) plus a two eek preexamination practical tuition period in New Barnet.

I successfully sat the first part of the examination at the London Refraction Hospital in 1944. By this time my pharmacy pre-training was coming to an end and I had to make a choice as to which university I wanted to attend.

I considered Manchester, Nottingham and Heriot-Watt College, Edinburgh but finally decided on the College of the Pharmaceutical Society at London University. It was the society s secretary and registrar, the late Sir Hugh Linstead, who advised me on my choice, after a lecture visit to Stoke.

Optics had to be put back for a while as the pharmacy course was a very full-time occupation.

This was just at the end of WW2 and things in London were not too easy. However, I did manage to achieve one more of my ambitions my first journey abroad.

FOCUS ON

& pharmacist Gerald A friend who shared my digs at 40, Queensborough Terrace, Bayswater, asked me to join him on an 18-day holiday in Switzerland s Bernese Oberland. This was the first of my overseas holidays, holidays which have since taken me to over 30 different countries more of this later.

I qualified as a pharmaceutical chemist (PhC) in 1947 and was preparing to enter for my Optical final examination when my National Service callup papers arrived on the doormat.

After several appeals, which took several weeks to process, I was finally turned down but not until December. By that time, I had taken the exam and passed. I was now a Fellow of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers (FSMC). This Fellowship of an ancient London Guild resulted in me being granted the Freedom of the City of London at an interesting ceremony at the Guildhall.

I joined the Royal Air Force in January 1948.

After my initial training in Bridgnorth I was posted overseas with the rank of Sergeant. Now I was to see more of the world.

I spent nine months in Egypt s canal zone at the headquarters of the Middle East Air Force in Abu Sueir then a further seven months at a medical stores depot at Luqa airport, Malta.

During these two periods I was able to travel extensively. I visited almost all the stations in the Suez Canal zone and was in contact with the stations we supplied in Iraq, Greece, Cyprus and Malta with its subsidiary airports in Libya, Tripoli (Castel Benito), Bengazi (Benina) and Tobruk (El Adam). This was really the start of my great interest in foreign travel.

The first 18 years of my father s life were spent in Zimbabwe in Africa or Southern Rhodesia as it was then. I grew up hearing stories and anecdotes of those early pioneering days, told to me by my paternal grandmother. What adventures they had and what hardships they endured during the years of the Boer War. My mind was full of African stories and it was my ambition to explore that wonderful continent more extensively. That dream was fulfilled. I have always imagined that a little bit of Africa had somehow got into my blood. In 1959 I was able to

spend five weeks in Kenya, Tanganyika and Uganda. Much later in 1992 I had an invitation to visit my family s old hometown of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. I was to see many of the sights that had been embedded in my memory since boyhood.

Another ambition in foreign travel was to circumnavigate the globe. This I achieved in 1994. I travelled west from Heathrow to the USA. Then via Hawaii and the Pacific Island of Guam to Yokohama, Japan where I stayed with my godson for the second time. It was while there that I had the opportunity to visit Hiroshima and to video material for my documentary on the war in the Pacific Alpha and Omega. I journeyed on to Hong Kong and eventually back to England arriving from the east at Gatwick.

John Cartwright and I had founded Leek Amateur Cine Society after becoming involved with presenting film shows while we were at Leek High School. We met regularly and in the early years of WW2 we organised three public film shows in aid of current charities.

The first was in aid of Leek s Spitfire Fund.

The town was to raise money to buy an aircraft as part of its war effort. This came to fruition in the purchase of a Spitfire names The Spirit of Leek.

Our show raised the sum of £14 from the sale of tickets priced at 4d, 6d and 9d. The second show was for the British Red Cross Society and the third in aid of Mrs Churchill s Aid to Russia Fund. >> Leek Life

23

FOCUS ON

<< In 1946 Stoke-on-Trent Amateur Cine Society was revived after the war years. In 1950, on my return from national service, I was invited to join by John Martin. John Cunningham and I joined in the same month and this was the start of our lasting friendship.

I have served on the committee almost since I joined and, since the death of Stuart Day in 1973, I have had the honour to hold the office of President. The Institute of Amateur Photographers (IAC) had also started up again after its wartime stand-down and I joined in 1954.

On being discharged from HM services I took up pharmaceutical locum work for a while and was then invited to join the firm of Duncan Ross to open a new pharmacy in Normacot. I stayed for seven years before going up the road to Meir where I remained as a director of the now Limited Company until I retired in 1986.

In 1948 the National Health Service came into being and pharmacy was a real full-time occupation. I had intended combining optics with pharmacy but it soon became obvious that this was no longer a possibility (there 24 Leek Life Issue 51

were previously many chemist opticians ) so I never have practiced ophthalmic optics. This was ironic. The main reason for joining Duncan Ross was because a colleague, Fred Clarke, was practising optics in rooms above the pharmacy and I thought I would be able to achieve some practical experience with him.

In the film world I grew up with three big ambitions. I wanted to achieve an award in the IAC international competition. This I did in 1957 with my Tale of a Golden Isle, winning the ACW silver plaque in the travel class.

The IAC s most prestigious prize is the Daily Mail Challenge Trophy. This I won with Laurie and Stuart Day in 1958 with Passport to Paradise. My third aim was to win an Oscar in Movie Maker s Ten Best International Competition. In 1980 the film Mau ing the Saggar, which I filmed and directed for Stoke ACS and in 1982 my film Daylight on Dal, both won Ten Best awards.

As a member of the Royal Photographic Society (RPS) I wanted to emulate, in a small way, my friend and mentor John Martin and in 1984 I was elected an Associate for my 16mm film work.

FOCUS ON I was elected to the IAC council in 1967 and became its technical officer and later was elected a Fellow. In 1982 I took over from Jack Jennings as Institute chairman for two years. When Leslie Froude retired as president he nominated me as his successor, on election, I held this prestigious post for seven years.

I had always been interested in the International Union of Amateur Cinematography (UNICA). I had researched our UK connections with the organisation and the unfortunate withdrawal in the 1950s. Whilst attending a Scandinavian Film Festival in 1985 I was invited to travel to Almelo, Netherlands, for the 1986 UNICA Congress with the aim of discussing the feasibility of the UK rejoining. The terms seemed acceptable for the IAC to represent the UK and I was delighted when council decided to apply for the reinstatement of the UK membership. This resulted in the renewal of the membership in 1987.

Since then, a party of IAC members has attended regularly and the UK film programme has been awarded many bronze, silver and gold medals. I was honoured by being presented with a UNICA gold medal for my services.

Since 1995 I have been compiling an annual video Newsreel of events in the North Staffordshire area. This is forming a useful collection of archive material recoding today s happenings for tomorrow s history. I was honoured in 1997 with a Stoke-on-Trent Arts award In

recognition of the outstanding contribution to the cultural life of Stoke-on-Trent. The certificate and exquisite glass sculpture are treasured possessions. The final honour in 2008 was the award of an MBE for film services in the area.

In 1992 I was proposed and accepted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and have enjoyed the events which I have been able to attend. In 2004, the 250th anniversary of the RSA, I was pleased to take some guests to attend a royal garden party at Buckingham Palace. Her Majesty the Queen is Patron and Prince Philip President of the RSA. It was a most enjoyable occasion.

During my life I have been involved in many local organisations namely: Leek Amateur Dramatic Society,

Leek Scouts Gang Show, Leek Arts Club, Historical Society and Civic Society, North Staffordshire Optical Association, North Staffordshire Pharmaceutical Society (former President), Staffordshire Moorlands Talking Newspaper for the Blind (current Editor and former Chairman), Stoke Film Theatre (Chairman of the Governors), Stoke-on-Trent & Newcastle s Scout Show (Screamline) and Stretch Ancestral Research Society (former Chairman).

So, what is left to aim for? I still enjoy travelling. I would like to go to South America so much to see there. Now that I work exclusively in video, with non-linear editing on computer, I would like to execute just one more masterpiece but maybe that is wishful thinking.

quiz corner

Let s get quizzical

COMPILED BY PAUL STEELE

1. Which global pop star's real name is Angela Trimble?

2. How many English managers have won footballs Premier League?

4. Which item of sporting equipment shares its name with a character from a Shakespeare play?

5. Which month of the year has a 25 hour day?

6. What is the closest US state to Africa?

7. Who is the only English swimmer to retain an Olympic title?

8. Which singer is to play Glinda the Good Witch in the film version of Wicked?

9. Which song did Chaka Demus and Pliers take to the number one spot in 1993 which the Beatles failed to do so?

10. Which canine travelled with Jones, Blake, Dinkley and Rogers?

11. What nationality was Jack in Jack and the Beanstalk?

12. The Northern lights are called Aurora Borealis but what are the Southern lights called?

13. What unit is equal to about 5.88 trillion miles?

14. Which former member of The Saturdays entered the castle this year in I m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! ?

15. Who lost his job as Manchester United manager after they lost 4-1 to Watford?

16. True or False. Justin Bieber was born in London?

17. Which Simon and Garfunkel song was used in the opening title sequence of the 1967 film The Graduate?

18. Eddie Lawson was deputy head and a maths teacher t which fictional comprehensive school?

19. In which film, does the lead character George Bailey intend to commit suicide?

20. Who wrote the children s story Chitty Chitty Bang Bang ?

1. Debbie Harry 2. None 3. 666 4. Puck 5. October (Clocks go back an hour) 6. Maine 7. Adam Peaty (100m Breaststroke) 8. Ariana Grande 9. Twist and Shout 10. Scooby-Doo (Fred, Daphne, Velma and Shaggy) 11.

English (Fe Fi Fo Fum etc) 12. Aurora Australis 13. A Light Year 14. Frankie Bridge 15. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 16. True. London, Ontario in Canada 17. The Sound of Silence 18. Waterloo Road 19. It s a Wonderful Life 20.

Ian Fleming

26 Leek Life Issue 51

Quizzes compiled by Paul Steele - email: pnsteele@aol.com.

Paul's 'Which One?' quiz game is available on Amazon.

3. Which devilish number do all the numbers on a UK roulette wheel add up to?

LEEK TOWN MAYOR

Wearing the chains of office is a privilege

T

he role of Mayor of Leek is a civic one. My aim when elected in May last year was to bring a sense of community to the role and what I do within it.

This was the reason for choosing as my fundraising efforts two local charities, Borderland Voices and Family Action whose impact is on children, families and individuals needing help in order to flourish, and maintain their wellbeing.

Reflecting on 2021 causes a lot of pain for many people and I am not without that sense of loss and sympathy for others.

In Leek we have lost valuable friends and also supported those struggling in varied ways.

Through that time the key word as ever in Leek is support.

Leek people care for their own. We set up support networks, we listen, and still, through it all we have fun where we can. We play music, we tell poetry, we entertain, we paint and take photographs - the list is endless and takes commitment for others enjoyment.

Our Town Crier goes out in rain and shine to bring us a sense of togetherness in good and bad times.

In 2021, as Leek Town Mayor I ve met a wonderful lady celebrating her 103rd birthday, attended many Royal British Legion memorial events, celebrated the arrival of many new businesses and the refurbishment of Leek United

Building Society, met individuals and groups that are unsung heroes, and latterly, in time for Christmas, joined many talented actors, singers and musicians celebrating Christmas together at last.

I have also taken great pride, on behalf of Leek Town Council and our Leek Town Mayor town, in welcoming many councillor Lyn civic dignities to explore Swindlehurst and enjoy Leek. All have commented on the warmth of our welcome and the beauty of our historic environment.

Events over the past year have been varied, full of laughter and fun, and most of all safe. A great deal of effort has been made by all events coordinating teams in ensuring risk assessments that protect our safety. I thank them all.

Wearing the chains of office is a privilege that lasts a short time. I have tried to represent our town enthusiastically and at every opportunity.

I look forward to the new year and hope for a less challenging New Year. Please stay safe and care for each other.

Leek Town Mayor Councillor Lyn Swindlehurst

FOX NETWORKING

Business networking group on the up

A

fortnightly Leek business networking group has proved a great success following its launch in the summer of 2021.

Fox Networking, which meets on alternate Fridays at the Foxlowe Arts Centre in Leek, is run

by Mark Brammar who owns his own PR and marketing consultancy.

Mark said: Networking is vital for all businesses, especially small businesses and the self-employed as it provides a forum to meet likeminded individuals, discuss common issues and hopefully leads to business referrals.

The idea behind Fox Networking is to provide a business forum with no membership fees and no commitment to attend regularly. However, I get quite a few regular attendees who really value the sharing of ideas and information and the

relationships they have forged.

Mark added: We get businesses of all sizes and from all sectors, but the common factor is that people want to connect and feel part of a community.

Although we are Leek based, people have travelled from further afield from the likes of Stone, Buxton, Ashbourne and Stockport to attend.

Meetings run from 8am to 9.30pm and include a buffet breakfast, around the room introductions, a guest speaker and business card prize draw.

Anyone wishing to attend can contact Mark Brammar mba@markbrammar or visit the Fox Networking Facebook page.

Leek Life Issue 51 27

PATIENT LOCALITY GROUP

Working together as a Primary Care Network

T

he Primary Care Network for Leek & Biddulph covers the five GP Practices in the towns here Bas Pickering, a member of the Patient Locality Group, explains the services which are available through the Primary Care Network for the two towns: The GP surgeries in Leek and Biddulph are working together as a Primary Care Network and these are the benefits for patients: Local Covid vaccination clinics in Leek and Biddulph throughout 2021; Local Covid clinics continuing in 2022, offering a valuable alternative to larger mass vaccination sites, especially for those unable to travel out of their local area. If you are eligible for a Covid vaccination and would like to go to a local clinic contact your GP surgery.

In addition, by working together as a Primary Care Network of GP practices you can now benefit from: Extra services offered locally at each GP 28 Leek Life Issue 51

Practice - there is no need to travel outside of your normal GP Practice area; Extra specialist clinical staff working alongside the practice staff. The extra staff are Social Prescribers, Pharmacists, Dieticians, Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists; Extended Access (evening and weekend) to GP appointments at all Leek and Biddulph GP practices.

The following extra services are now available in your GP practice.

Dietitian can provide dietary advice to help with weight reduction; provide specialist advice on diets for long term health conditions, for example for those with inflammatory bowel disease or poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes; deliver tips on good nutrition and hydration to help reduce the risk of falls amongst the frail and elderly.

The Occupational Therapist can provide a holistic assessment for patients aged 16 plus; help patients living with a range of physical and mental health difficulties to overcome

barriers which are preventing them from participating in daily activities; provide an early intervention service to support independence and reduce disability that may be caused by health conditions; work with patients to improve their health and wellbeing, particularly people with early frailty, those off work looking to return and those with early stages of mental health difficulties or cognitive impairment.

The Pharmacy team can answer questions about your medicines and discuss how to get the best results for your health and lifestyle needs; advise on medication side effects, over the counter products, how to take different medications; help with different ways to access your prescriptions; Review medications to ensure safety, and optimise treatment regimes.

The Social prescriber can talk with you about any problem that is not medical; connect you to appropriate support and find ways for you to feel more in control of your health and wellbeing and a part of your community.

And new for 2022 we can now offer a physiotherapy service for help with problems that affect your neck, back, bones, joints or muscles, including the medicines and tests for these problems.

Contact your own GP practice if you want to know more about these services and how to access them.

Bas Pickering Leek and Biddulph Patient Locality Group

Winter Dogwoods

I

n winter after leaves have dropped and plants have been cut back and tidied, the bare bones of the garden come to the fore and add shape and sometimes colour in the low angled sun. Few shrubs add more colour than the Winter Dogwoods.

The young stems are highly coloured red, yellow, orange, almost black and lime green depending on variety, creating a stunning display through the winter months. The autumn display of colouring leaves is almost as striking with red, orange and gold tones clothing the stems in October before they fall.

These are shrubs that form good sized clumps over the years in sun or light shade. Unpruned they will grow into medium to large shrubs about 5-8ft / 150-240cm tall, but to enjoy their most vivid colours it s best to cut off a third to a half of the older stems nearly to the ground in late winter before new growth starts. Lots of new, vigorous, straight stems will start to grow providing a blazing display by the next winter.

This will keep the plants to three foot / 90cm in height.

The best known variety is Siberica with bright red stems and vigorous growth looking brilliant against winter skies. The lime green Flaviramea is equally as striking. For the most intense flaming orange stems the varieties of Cornus sanguinea outshine everything else:

GARDENING

Midwinter Fire and Winter Flame are both very good. Darker red is Elegantissima, but for almost black stems Kesselringii is the popular choice and looks wonderful in winter mixed with the brighter coloured varieties especially the green Flaviramea or perhaps planted with the white barked Himalayan Birch. Dogwoods also have white flowers in summer and unpruned bushes produce white, pale purple or bluish berries in autumn that provide a good food source for birds.They are best in soil that isn't too boggy. In a border, plant them around 3ft / 1m apart. They also make good informal hedges at 2ft / 60cm gaps. Dogwoods are one of the stars of the winter garden and whether planted in drifts or lines or just a single plant they re sure to give you joy in the dark days of winter.

Janet and I organise Plant Hunters Fairs, specialist plant fairs at wonderful locations.

Dates for your diary: Sugnall Walled Garden, near Eccleshall on Saturday, April 2; Capesthorne Hall and Gardens, Macclesfield on Sunday, April 10; Dorothy Clive Gardens on Sunday, April 17 and Monday, April 18; Cholmondeley Castle Gardens on Sunday, April 24, and Adlington Hall Gardens, Macclesfield on Sunday, May 8.

Please see www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk for a full list of all our 2022 plant fairs.

Martin Blow

Leek Life Issue 51 29

JOKE TIME

Time for a giggle

Here our local Jester Chris Sproston, shares with us some of his latest jokes with a New Year focus: I’m never going jogging on My New Year’s New Year’s Eve, again - kept resolutions go in one spilling my drink. year and out the other.

I have a date for New Year’s Eve - December 31st

Did Rudolph get Sleigh station for Christmas?

Chris Sproston

Do cows celebrate Moo Year’s Eve?

Knock Knock Who’s there?

Abby Abby who?

Abby New Year!

Last year I resolved to lose 20 pounds - only 35 Do snowmen chill out pounds to go. on New Year’s Eve?

What did the dog say on New May all your Decided to read more this Knock, knock.

Year’s Eve? Woof troubles last as year - I turned the Who’s there? long as your television subtitles on.

Looked up January on the Radio. resolutions.

Winternet.

Radio who?

Wanted to ring in the Radio not, it’s a new year so I went to the I made a ‘to do’ list for the first week of January, New Year. jewellers. or as I call it resolutions.

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION

Poppy appeal raises more than £30,000

A

fundraising group in the Moorlands has raised an amazing amount of money in their annual appeal.

The Leek branch of the Royal British Legion raised a total of £33,400 in their recent Poppy Appeal for the national charity.

The local campaign saw a band of volunteers manning a Poppy Shop within Bury & Hilton Estate Agent s offices in Market Street, Leek, as well as standing and collecting donations at some of the town s supermarkets.

Councillor Mike Worthington led on this year s Poppy Appeal in Leek.

He said: I was amazed at the amount we raised but thanks to people like Avril who came for three whole weeks to support me in the office at Bury & Hilton, who so kindly give up their office space for the appeal.

Special mention must go to Big John from Tean branch who stood alone at Aldi and took almost 4,000 pounds on his own.

30 Leek Life Issue 51

Sainsbury volunteers took £8,200 and Morrisons £3,500.

Bruce Daniels supervised Sainsbury s and Peter from Leek Branch supervised Morrisons assisted by Graham (real name John).

Mike added: Without the many volunteers who gave up their time to help in RBL s 100 anniversary, it would have been a struggle.

I had no idea who some of the volunteers were, they must have come from previous years during Carly s tenure as Poppy Appeal organiser but greatly appreciated.

The Royal British Legion helps members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, veterans and their families.

A spokesman for the charity states on the organisation s website: We support serving and ex-serving personnel all year round, every day of the week.

Our support starts after one day of service and continues through life, long after service is over.

To find out more, go online to: www.britishlegion.org.uk.

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Leek Life Issue 51 31

Reflect and Refocus

L

ast issue I touched on my current journey with cancer.

Whilst I do not want to dwell on it here, I do want to let you know I have since had successful surgery and this month will be visiting oncology for my treatment plan.

If you did want to understand more, I have shared my experiences in My Cancer Journey a blog on my website below.

January for me remains uncertain. It is a time when we all traditionally set resolutions and goals, talk about dreams and ambitions of what we will achieve in the coming year. The last two years have thrown curve balls, not just my diagnosis and the adjustments I have had to make over the last three months, but Covid has changed the lives of all of us, both temporarily and permanently.

I would urge any of you that may be thinking: What s the point in setting goals? to rethink. When we have something to aim for, we have hope. We may not be able to live our lives exactly as we want to right now, but we can still live. I have had to reconsider my 2020 goals because life changed for me - it was right to review them.

This year, my goals will be less business focussed, and more about how I achieve a quality lifestyle. I have snatched some precious moments with friends and that has kept me going through the darkest moments. During

2020/21 I desperately missed entertaining and socialising with friends. 2022 will be about reconnecting. My illness also stopped me taking my jewellery to fairs and markets.

The upside of this is I have a good amount of stock of my core items. 2022 will enable me to focus my time on being creative both with new designs and also throwing myself into my textile art. So yes, every cloud really does have a silver lining.

If you take one thing from this, it should be that whatever gets in your way, do not allow it to stop you making plans, they just present an opportunity to take a step back, refocus and sometimes explore new opportunities.

If you need any help, I will be taking new clients on in January, but it is also a great time to purchase a copy of my do-it-yourself workbook see below.

I am a Creative Life Coach, supporting others in embracing their inner creativity to achieve their goals.

Author of Don t Just Dream It Achieve It! (Go on kickstart those goals).

This interactive book is available from my online shop at https://carolyntraffordart.ecwid.com/Dont-Just-DreamIt-Achieve-It-Book-p196854491.

CAROLYN TRAFFORD

Reflections Coaching Contact details: 07714 216388.

Email: Caro@reflectionscoaching.co.uk. www.carolyntrafford.com

SCOUTS

Six decades of Scouting service

A

longserving youth organisatio n volunteer has been recognised for his service.

Martin Hulme, chair of 4th Leek Scout Group, was presented with his 60 years service award at the Group s recent Activity Day. During his six decades with the Scouting movement, Martin has held many leading roles and has even been awarded with the Queen Scout Award.

A spokesman for the group told the Leek & Moorlands Echo: Martin was awarded with his 60 years adult service award by the District Commissioner Jonathan Lloyd at an activity day held at the 4th Leek Scout Headquarters in Pump Street.

32 Leek Life Issue 51

Martin progressed through Cubs and Scouts at 4th Leek and gained his Queen Scout Award in 1961.

Martin held assistant section leadership roles in the Cubs and Scouts before taking on the role of Cub leader.

In 1972, Martin took on the role of group chairman, the position he still holds today.

Martin was awarded a Medal of Merit in 1987 for outstanding service.

The spokesman added: Martin also represented the group for ten years as a District Executive committee member.

In addition to his Scouting role, Martin is president and chairman of Leek Shooting Centre at Blackshaw Moor and many scouts have been introduced to shooting by Martin.

The 4th Leek Scout Group is on the look out for additional adult volunteers to help within their different sections.

To find out more and to register your interest in volunteering, go online to www.facebook.com/MoorlandsScouting.

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ISSUE 26

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financial matters

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W We’ve got something to c l braate... celebra at For 25 years we’ve been ded dicated to off ffe ering the besst possible advice, service and d support to our clients in the e community.

We focus on people not produc o ts, helping shape your financiaal plans to fit your lifestyle cho oices.

So whatever your aims in liffe, we’ll help keep your finances e on track so that you can achievve them.

Russell House, 20 Stockkwell Street, ST13 6DS Tel: 01538 371288 Te

www.brainme ellorfs.co.uk

Authorised and Regulated by the e Financial Conduct Authority

34 Leek Life Issue 51

So, what is sustainable investing?

It’s a strategy and practice to incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into investment decisions. Such portfolios have therefore been screened and evaluated to ensure that they meet certain ESG criteria.

The movement is being embraced by asset managers and investment companies, helping to ensure that issues of sustainability are being incorporated into their business models and investment decisions. For example, some have chosen to exclude certain categories such as weapons and tobacco while others have chosen to invest in areas that cause reduced environmental harm such as opting for green energy rather than fossil fuels. Investment managers are therefore increasingly taking into consideration these key factors when managing pensions and investments to ensure they are well positioned for the future green economy.

To find out more about sustainable investments please speak to your Financial Planner.

Brian Mellor Financial Services is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

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