Newcastle Life issue 22

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ISSUE 22

Win

ee To S s t e Tick sons Sea he s At T g n i t Gree w Vic Ne

Life

BRAVING THE DARK FOR THE PINK SISTERS

Accountants tackle the highest peak in Wales to raise hundreds for cancer

REVITALISING THE HIGH STREET

Newcastle to benefit from a share of £1bn from the government’s Future High Streets Fund

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CONTENTS

Issue 22 Editors Letter.......................................6

Charity Fundraising ..........................20

Newcastle High Street .........................8

Gardening...........................................21

Tribute and Celebration.....................10

What’s On ..........................................22

Council News......................................12

Stage Directions.................................24

Competition Winners.........................13

Volunteer Appeal ...............................26

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust...............14

National Lottery Funding ..................27

Newcastle Lions Club.........................16

Motoring ............................................30

New Vic Theatre.................................18

Quiz Corner........................................34

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

H

ello and welcome to the 22nd issue of Newcastle Life magazine. Whilst the weather may not have been quite as sunny as we would have liked it to be this year (we were spoilt for sunshine in 2018!) this summer has nevertheless certainly been one to enjoy!

It’s also been one to remember, as two years on, we are still finding ourselves in the midst of Brexit, which is still dragging its stubborn heels - with plenty of political squabbling keeping us all entertained in one way or another. So why not take a breather from the national upheaval and disruption, and get involved in something ‘local’? There’s plenty to do in Newcastle!

In this issue we take a look at our vast array of local community groups, from Alzheimers to the arts, Lions to cancer support. In fact, three of our organisations have secured grants from the National Lottery, which will give a huge boost for local people.

We were thrilled to learn that Newcastle High Street has been chosen as one of as one of fifty towns in England to benefit from a share of £1bn from the government’s Future High Streets Fund, which aims to revitalise struggling high streets.

So as the kids go back to school, the nights draw in and the curtains close earlier, I hope you enjoy this autumnal issue, and we will see you again at Christmas!

Laura

Cover Photo: Laura Campbell 6 Newcastle Life Issue 22

Thank you to all of you who have been in touch with your stories and events for Issue 21. Remember, Newcastle Life is YOUR magazine and we want to hear from you! Perhaps you have a story to tell or a photo to share; maybe you’d like to promote your event or your talent; or you may have exciting snippets of local history to interest our readers! Simply get in touch by emailing laura@timesandecho.co.uk

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Brighten up your kitchen this winter

Newcastle Life Issue 22 7

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newcastle high street

Revitalising the high street

N

ewcastle under Lyme town centre has been chosen as one of fifty towns in England to benefit from a share of £1bn from the government’s Future High Streets Fund, which aims to revitalise struggling high streets.

The Borough Council has progressed to the next stage of the Future High Streets Fund, a hugely competitive fund designed to make sure town centres remain vibrant by helping them

8 Newcastle Life Issue 22

to attract new businesses, boost local growth and create new jobs.

It means the Council will receive up to £150,000 to develop detailed project proposals relating to the Ryecroft area in Newcastle town centre, building on initial plans submitted to the Government in March. In the next phase councils will be eligible for up to £25 million of capital to invest in the regeneration of the town centres.

Council Leader Simon Tagg said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted in the Future High Streets Fund. As well as enabling us to progress a major initiative, it’s a clear endorsement of my administration’s strategy for the town centre.

“We’ve put regenerating the town centre at the heart of our Council plan, and have a clear and ambitious programme for change which includes breathing new life into the historic market, reviewing parking charges and installing new CCTV. We have taken every opportunity to communicate this ambition to Government. This award is the product of our clear strategic intent.

“I would like to thank Newcastle-underLyme Business Improvement District, Staffordshire County Council, Keele University, the Newcastle and Stafford College Group, Aspire Housing and our other partners for supporting both this bid and the Council’s efforts generally in securing improvements to the town centre.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the money in the High Streets Fund could be used for schemes such as improving transport links or converting empty shops into homes or offices.

Mr Johnson said: "Our high streets are right at the heart of our communities, and I will do everything I can to make sure they remain vibrant places where people want to go, meet and spend their money.

"But with our town centres facing challenges, we're today expanding the High Streets Fund to support over 100 high streets to regenerate - backed by £1bn of vital investment.”

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TribuTe and celebraTion

Lasting tribute to local cyclist

A

cycling sculpture has taken pride of place on a main Newcastle roundabout in memory of a local bike enthusiast.

The metal sculpture features six cyclists in motion and was unveiled on 23rd July. It is located on Whitmore Roundabout, in memory of Brian Tomkins, who died after collapsing after a bike ride in 2018.

Brian was a former Newcastle Borough Councillor, Chair of Aspire Housing and member of the Newcastle Triathlon Club and Lyme Valley Cycling Club. The 70-year-old was from Chapel Chorlton.

The art installation was designed and constructed by local social enterprise PM Training at its Artworks department in Chesterton. Each

steel plate bike spans eight feet in length.

Staffordshire-based Realise Charity funded the art installation at a cost of £20,000. Realise is committed to supporting local communities through skills, jobs, health and environmental projects. The charity aims to build resilience and break down the causes of poverty in North Staffordshire.

Will Nixon, Managing Director of PM Training and Trustee of Realise charity, said: “It’s an honour to be involved in a project that’s so close to our hearts at we are aspire. Brian was an inspiration to many of us across our group and dedicated so much time and effort to improving his community. This sculpture is a fitting tribute to a man who we loved and dearly miss.”

Mayor Joins Veteran's 100th Birthday Celebrations

A

veteran of the Dunkirk landings was joined by civic dignitaries, service personnel both past and present as well as his family and friends for a milestone

event.

Norman Lewis celebrated his 100th birthday with a party at the Tri Services Centre in Hassell Street, Newcastle. The Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Mr Ian Dudson, and the Worshipful the Mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Cllr. Simon White, joined Norman on the special occasion.

He served in France from October 1939 until June 1940 before being captured and sent to a prisoner of war camp in Poland.

During recent publicity to mark the D-Day landings, Norman said: “I was there for five years. For two-and-half-years I worked in the main camp in which there were 23,500 prisoners.

“My diet each day consisted of no breakfast, a bowl of soup at dinner time and a round of bread at night and that was it.

“We had lice, we were dirty, we couldn’t wash properly, and we slept in compartments three tiers high which slept 60 men with 20 to a platform.”

At the end of the war he was transported 10 Newcastle Life Issue 22

thousands of miles via Odessa on the Black Sea, Turkey, Egypt, Italy and Gibraltar before landing back in England.

He said: “I had covered more than 10,000 miles in three months. While I was in Egypt I was told I had five years back-pay to collect – which paid for a nice house in Meir.”

Norman still lives there to this day and is a regular visitor to the Tri Services Centre in Hassell Street, Newcastle, where the registered charity provides a drop-in facility as well as a whole range of advice and support services for dozens of former service personnel from across the area.

The Mayor said: “Our nation owes an immense debt of gratitude to people like Norman who served their country with heroism and distinction.

I was both honoured and delighted to have been asked to go along and help him celebrate his 100th birthday and it was a fantastic occasion.

“In June this year we marked the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. That was a momentous occasion to celebrate peace, liberty and reconciliation.

Without people like Norman none of that would be possible.”

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council news

RECYLING OVERHAUL A

n overhaul of recycling and waste services in Newcastle-under-Lyme is gathering pace.

Councillors decided to scrap the existing system and replace it with a new and simplified version following extensive consultation with residents.

Now, Cabinet members are set to authorise expenditure which will enable a new service to be introduced from Spring 2020, with expectations that the total cost will be around £3million.

Cllr. Trevor Johnson, Cabinet member for environment and recycling, said: “It’s full steam ahead now. We are due to give the green light to the procurement processes which will mean we have the right vehicles and containers in place for the new system.

“Our consultation with residents was one of the biggest we have ever undertaken here at the Council and the overwhelming result was that

they wanted change. We are now getting on and putting all the foundations in place to deliver on that in the spring next year.”

The new system will simplify recycling for residents, reduce the risk of littering streets during collection and reduce the number of containers. The new service will also enable the Council to recycle more of the plastic it collects including pots, tubs and trays.

Once the go-ahead is given for procurement tenders will be sought for vehicles, building work that may be required to accommodate aspects of the new service at the Council’s depot, and other services.

The new service will involve:Week one – food waste; non-recyclable waste (household) Week two – food waste; recyclable materials: plastic cans and glass in a blue wheeled bin; paper and card in a blue bag which is to be distributed to residents.

charity appeal

Stock Donations Required!

R

eady to clear out your cupboards and detox your wardrobe?

The Cancer Research UK shops in Merrial Street and The Ironmarket, Newcastle are desperately in need of good quality goods to keep up with demand from shoppers.

They are appealing to people to have a clear out and donate their household items, shoes, handbags, toys and children’s clothes in particular to help the charity’s life-saving work.

Merrial Street, Cancer Research UK Shop Manager, Christine Mancell, said: “This is a chance to have a summer clear out – getting rid of things you haven’t used for ages and making room for the new season’s goods.

“There is a high demand for household items and we’d be particularly keen to have those donated.

12 Newcastle Life Issue 22

“You may never use these items again that are in the back of your cupboard but they could well come in handy for someone else. And of course, each donation you make will go towards the charity’s goal of beating cancer.”

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COMPETITION WINNERS

Newcastle couple win a cruise on TV

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couple from Newcastle have won a cruise holiday after a television show presenter turned up on their f front doorstep.

Ray and Audrey Barnett said they could not believe their luck when the presenter John Cooper of ‘Cruise Today’ on Sky TV V Channel 191 arrived at their home with the camera crew.

Ray commented: “We watch the programme every ryy day. We saw a cruise on there that we really liked, so we decided to book it, and when we did we went into the draw to win the cost of the cruise back.” The couple were thrilled to discover they’d won.

John Cooper from Vision Cruise, who gave them the prize said: “We give away a cruise every ryy month, and this is the first time we have visited Staffordshire, but I love surprising people by giving them the cruise

they had already booked for free.”

Audrey added: “We have been on lots of cruises and really love them, but we never thought we would ever be on a cruise for free!”

The couple will be cruising on the MSC Preziosa from Southampton in May next year, enjoying seven nights of glittering entertainment and wonderful food, as well as visiting some real great ports of call.

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StaffordShire wildlife truSt

Staffs wildlife boost helps Newcastle

W

ork is now well underway across several sites in North Staffordshire as part of the SUNRISE (Stoke and Urban Newcastle Rediscovering Its Secret Environment) Project to improve habitats, biodiversity and connectivity of green spaces and rivers in Stoke-on-Trent and Urban Newcastle.

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust are the main delivery partner for the £3.6 million SUNRISE project, which is being led by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and was launched earlier this year.

The project has already started its work to create new habitats and enhance and restore others across 16 sites before the project concludes in December 2020.

In Newcastle, work to sow wildflower seeds in town parks to create new areas of wild flower meadow have already started. These will provide flowers as a nectar and food resource for invertebrates, birds and mammals as well as a beautiful habitat for park users.

There is also a large scale woodland management scheme taking place across three plantation woodlands in Newcastle-under-Lyme parks, in a bid to improve woodland habitats.

Richard Guy, Project Manager for the SUNRISE project, said: “As well as making good progress with on the ground conservation work, we have already met with two MPs, Jack Brereton and Ruth Smeeth, six city councillors and ran seven public consultation sessions to discuss the project with communities near the project sites.

“There’s plenty in the pipeline for the next few months, including surveying invasive species at 10 sites across Stoke and Newcastle to help us understand how best to control these species, creating several more wildflower meadows, and river restoration and woodland management work on multiple sites across the project area.

“This partnership project will result in greater biodiversity and a brighter and improved environmental landscape for Stoke and Newcastle-under-Lyme and we’re very pleased with how things are progressing with the

project.”

The majority (£2.1m) of the funding for the SUNRISE Project comes from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The scheme is a partnership between Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, the Environment Agency, Groundwork West Midlands, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, Staffordshire County Council and the Wild Trout Trust.

The project aims to create better, more connected habitats for wildlife along the green corridors formed by the River Trent and its tributaries. It will also improve sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS), control invasive species and improve existing woodland and grassland. All of the projects will be delivered by the end of 2020.

Sites involved in the SUNRISE programme include: Bradwell Wood, Bucknall Park, Causeley Brook, Cromer Road, Etruria Valley, Ford Green (along the course of Ford Green Brook), land adjacent to the M6 in Clayton, Lyme Brook, green space in Milton alongside the Caldon Canal, Pool Dam Marsh, Silverdale Country Park, Staffordshire University campus, Thistleberry Parkway, Victoria Ground and Trent Mill (a section of the River Trent parallel to Leek Road between Victoria Road and Bucknall Road).

Cllr. Trevor Johnson, Cabinet member for environment and recycling for Newcastle-underLyme Borough Council, said: “The Council is delighted to be involved in this exciting, longterm project. Things won’t happen overnight but it’s going really well, with the completion of woodland management work at the Lyme Valley and Thistleberry Parkways – which will help wildlife and biodiversity by allowing more light to reach the floor – and the sowing of meadow areas at Thistleberry that are already showing a wider range of species. Newcastle-under-Lyme is abundant in natural assets – developing them will also increase enjoyment for residents and visitors as well as create economic opportunities.”

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NEWS FROM T

newcastle lions club

IMPROVING LOCAL WELFARE

A

s part of the World’s largest service organization, Newcastle Lions are involved in many different projects to help people including Water Wells, Eye Camps, Diabetes Awareness and Measles Initiatives worldwide. All these projects are done by local volunteers socialising and working together, there is a great deal of fun to be had when helping others and the smiles on the faces of people that are helped is a major reward in itself. The local Lions also concentrate on local projects.

16 Newcastle Life Issue 22

These include:

1. Message in a Bottle The Message in a Bottle scheme is a simple idea designed to encourage vulnerable people, especially those living on their own, to keep their basic personal and medical details on a standard form and in a common location where they can be easily found in an Emergency.

The scheme, which has been running for some time now, is expanding across our area. The emergency services know about the scheme and have used the information in the bottle when treating an emergency. There is no cost to the user. All the costs of running the scheme locally are borne by the Lions Club of Newcastle under Lyme as part of Lions’ work in caring for our community.

2. Sight Awareness Sight Awareness plays a major part in Lions Clubs International. The Lions collect used spectacles which are sent to Chichester Lions Club for reuse throughout the world.

3. Spare stamps?

Hearing disabilities are supported through the Lions’ collections of used postage stamps.

4. Medic Alert For many years Lions have been working together with MedicAlert to assist people in the British Isles and Ireland that may have a hidden medical condition or allergy that could put them at risk in an emergency.

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THE LIONS

NEWCASTLE LIONS CLUB

BIG BOOST FOR OUR SPACE

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recent social event organised by Newcastle Lions Club has helped to support the staff and service users of Our Space, a charitable group based at the Brook Centre, Newcastle.

The event was held at the Our Space premises, and £750 was raised by the Lions, which will help enormously towards their good work with youngsters and adults with Special

Needs.

Lions Club President John Leigh commented “We have supported this venue for many years, both in its previous format and since Our Space began working here. It is a tremendous site and the young people who use it certainly enjoy its facilities. I would recommend anyone who has young people with Special Needs to come along and see what they have to offer.”

Pictured is John Leigh with some of the young people who attend Our Space.

Pictured is John Leigh, President of Newcastle Lions presenting the cheque to Jane Smith, Service Manager for Our Space.

If you’d like to join the Newcastle Lions Club, you would be very welcome. If you are interested in becoming a member, you are usually asked to attend a number of events prior to being invited to join. Meetings are usually held twice monthly on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month starting at 8 p.m. More information about the work done by the Newcastle Club can be found on www.newcastlelions.co.uk Newcastle Lions Club can also be contacted by e-mailing:- newcastlelions@lions.105bs.org.uk Newcastle Life Issue 22 17

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new vic theatre

Funding boost for award w

T

he New Vic Theatre has been awarded an Arts Council England grant to expand the work of arts programme, Appetite.

A local consortium led by New Vic Theatre has been awarded a grant of £1,750,000 as part of Arts Council England’s Creative People and Places programme to expand the work of the Appetite arts project into Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Creative People and Places is about more people taking the lead in choosing, creating and taking part in arts experiences in the places where they live. Since 2013 Appetite has been getting

18 Newcastle Life Issue 22

more people in Stoke-onTrent to experience and be inspired by the arts. Coproduced with local residents through the Appetite Supper Club, Appetite has engaged over 460,000 people in a programme of distinctive, quality, family-friendly arts events in the city’s parks, town centres, markets, hospitals and more.

The programme has featured local, national and international artists and has included The Enchanted Chandelier, a floating concert in the sky over Central Forest Park and Museum of the Moon, an epic lunar installation in the Kings Hall, Stoke.

The new funding will enable the programme to expand its work into the neighbouring borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme over a 4-year period beginning in October 2019. New consortium partners, Newcastle-under-Lyme Business Improvement District (BID), Go Kidsgrove and Keele University will join existing consortium partners New Vic Theatre, Staffordshire University, Partners in Creative Learning and Six Towns Radio to deliver the expanded Appetite programme.

Building on a fantastic partnership with Stoke-onTrent City Council, Appetite

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NEW VIC THEATRE

d winning arts programme

will also work with new strategic partners Newcastleunder-Lyme Borough Council, Staffordshire County Council and Aspire Housing to engage local community groups and co-produce a vibrant menu of arts events and activities for all people across the Borough, in addition to a continuing programme in Stoke-onTrent.

Cllr. Mark Holland, Cabinet member for leisure, culture and heritage at Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council said: “The Homecoming events over the last few years have showcased the pinnacle of contemporary circus talent, right here in our town centre – and there has certainly been an ‘appetite’ for more. It is fabulous news that this unique programme, which engages, educates and

entertains our communities, is going to be expanded further in Newcastle-underLyme in the next few years, thanks to the funding that has been secured by the New Vic and our other partners.”

Gemma Thomas, Appetite Director said: “We’re proud to have been able to secure this additional strategic funding from Arts Council England. Our six years working with people in Stokeon-Trent has proven that local people have an appetite for art that is relevant to them and their families. We love working with our partners and local people to come up with events and projects and look forward to doing so with people in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The investment from Arts Council England shows a willingness of funders to invest in places

like North Staffordshire. In Stoke-on-Trent we’ve supported artists and community groups to apply for additional funding through Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants and would encourage others to apply for projects across our area. We’re looking forward to expanding our work for the next four years with our Newcastle partners whilst continuing our work in Stokeon-Trent.”

Planning for the expanded programme will get underway from October 2019 and will see Appetite meeting with community groups and residents from across the Newcastle-underLyme Borough to explore what type of arts activities local people would like to see included.

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charity fundraising

Braving the dark for the Pink Sisters Accountants tackle the highest peak in Wales to raise hundreds for cancer

A

ccountants from Thompson Wright have handed over a cheque for £1413 to Stoke-on-Trent's Pink Sisters, after taking part in the Midnight Mountain Climb Challenge.

The team from the firm in Newcastle-under-Lyme set off from Snowdon base camp in the pitch black to summit the famous peak in aid of the local group, which predominantly supports those affected by breast cancer, as well as helping those with other forms of cancer.

The Pink Sisters are a friendly group of ladies who regularly meet both in a group and socially to provide advice, support and friendship at diagnosis, throughout treatment and beyond.

Mark Barlow, a Senior accountant at Thompson Wright, said “We set off around 1 o'clock in the morning from Llanberis as a group of 14 with varying mountaineering experience. As a group we faced challenging weather conditions, with rain for the duration as well as strong winds in parts.

"We reached the summit safely in time for sunrise, however due to the poor weather conditions our views were

only cloud. With thoughts in our heads of breakfast we set off down the mountain to café Penceunant Isaf, where Steffan took great care of us. I would like to think that all the group had a good time and most importantly we raised the money for a fantastic cause."

Thompson Wright was able to raise so much thanks to the generosity of its clients, staff and contacts. The money donated will help the charity to open a tea room and dropin centre in Stoke.

Alison Anderson, Payroll Manager at Thompson Wright, added: "We were delighted to present a cheque to the team at Pink Sisters.

Although the team certainly faced a tough challenge it is nothing compared to the ongoing battles that members of the Pink Sisters face.

"I would like to thank all those who took part and contributed to this donation, I am sure it will make a significant difference to this group."

Pictured some of the staff who undertook the challenge together with Payroll Manager, Alison Anderson presenting the cheque to Jackie McKenzie of Pink Sisters 20 Newcastle Life Issue 22

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Prairie Planting

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s the days shorten with the turn to Autumn and the sunlight mellows and softens, I love the effect of flowering perennials, those gone to seed and the swish of ornamental grasses in a prairie style garden.

Prairie gardens are a fairly recent trend in garden design using perennials and grasses that might be found in the US east of the Rockies. The trend has since developed to embrace a wider range of plants and soil conditions whilst retaining the naturalistic look.

The idea is to plant closely in irregularly shaped blocks of the same plant and to encourage these to intermingle with neighbouring plants over time. The result looks natural, smothers weeds and close planting also reduces the need for staking as plants are held upright by their neighbours.

Plants will need to be fairly tough and able to compete with their neighbours – there’s no place for shrinking violets!

The end result should be a low maintenance garden where all that is needed is to cut down and clear away the dead stems in winter.

However, unless your ground is completely weed free

before planting there will be some perennial weeds to tackle each spring.

Also, in a smaller garden plants will outgrow their space and need to be curtailed in autumn or spring (late flowering types are generally only divided in spring).

Whilst naturalistic plantings are often seen in large gardens, they can be easily adapted to smaller gardeners by converting the large drifts or blocks to ribbons of the same plant meandering through small clumps of others.

I first saw this style of planting a decade or so ago in a large, privately owned garden open for charity. A large bank was planted in drifts of Helenium, Achillea (Yarrow) and Cirsium (River thistle) with ribbons of Molinia (moor grass) and clumps of Salvia between.

The Heleniums and Cirsiums made ideal partners liking moist soils and likewise Achillea and Salvia in a drier spot. The moor grass grew happily in either!

Prairie plantings are quick to mature – you don’t have to be too patient – as we saw at Abbeywood Gardens in Cheshire. The interlocking teardrop shaped beds were planted in 2014 and 2015 and within a year looked full and

gardening

mature. Here traditional prairie plants like Echinacea (coneflower) and Molinia sit perfectly beside African Kniphofia (Red Hot Pokers) and Agapanthus (African Lily) and European Sedums.

Next issue I’ll take a look at some of the best plants for a naturalistic or prairie garden.

Janet & I run Special Perennials, our website www.specialperennials.com is full of colour photos and growing tips. We sell at Plant Hunters’ Fairs throughout the season. Plant Hunters’ Fairs have the country’s largest line-up of plant fairs with 41 events between March and September spanning 11 counties including events at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas; Weston Park, Shifnal; the Dorothy Clive Garden, Market Drayton; Sugnall Walled Garden, Eccleshall; Hodnet Hall Gardens, Cholmondeley Castle and Alderford Lake, Whitchurch. Please see www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk for the full 2020 calendar of dates and venues.

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WHAT’S ON

WHAT’S ON Do you have an event to share? Let us know!

Email laura@timesandecho.co.uk and we will do our best to feature your event in our what’s on guide Activity Day The Friends of Lyme Brook will be holding an activity day on 14th September to raise money. The group has been funded by Ground Force, and indirectly the Environment Agency, to enhance and protect the Lyme Brook in Newcastle and especially in the Lyme Valley. Sadly the Ground Force funding will be coming to an end soon and so the group needs to raise valuable monies to continue their good work. Activities will run from 10am to 4pm and the meeting point will be at the bridge from Tansy Way in the valley. Activities will include testing the quality of the Brook, identifying the invertebrates which live in it, seed bombing and identifying trees.

September 14th Apedale Light Railway Anniversary Half a century ago, a school summer fete set in motion a train of events which led to the creation of the Apedale Valley Light Railway. How did this happen?

Come along and find out between 11.30am and 4pm on September 21st and 22nd. Special fares will apply.For info see www.avlr.org.uk or e-mail info@avlr.org.uk September 21st and 22nd

Growfest 2019 Celebrate all that is green in North Staffordshire at Growfest 2019. Groups and organisations from throughout the area will be showing off the amazing work being done locally.

All our activities are free and family friendly, taking place on the Market Stalls on High Street, 10am – 3pm September 20th and 21st

Newcastle Food Fest Organised by FoodFest, the 2019 Newcastle Food Festival will bring a range of food producers to the High Street and Ironmarket, with the focus very much on community. There will be lots of family-friendly activities, cookery demonstrations, live music, farm animals and more.

September 21st and 22nd

Roman history The Apedale Heritage Centre will be celebrating Chesterton’s Roman history with the Ermine Street guard at the end of September. They will be bringing along their living history displays, Artillery and Cavalry as well as the infantry demonstrations. The main displays by the Ermine Street Guard will take place at 12pm and 3pm so make sure that you time your visit not to miss these. The living history will be on all day.

To find out more about the Ermine Street Guard go to http://www.erminestreetguard.co.uk There will also have a beer tent and hog roast on-site, and the usual steam train rides and mine tours will be running (not included in the ticket price).

September 28th and 29th

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WHAT’S ON Back to the 80s and 90s Enjoy a blast from the past at the Bradwell Community Education Centre, hosted by the Jill Clewes Academy. The evening will bring old school classics from the 80s and 90s and featuring vocalist Marianne Plau from 7.30pm.

September 28th

Seabridge Spectacular Fireworks Display A spectacular firework display, hosted by Blitz Fireworks at Seabridge Primary School. A great family night out, with everyone welcome.

There will be a BBQ, fairground rides, Bar, Refreshments, Prize Draw, Sweets, and Candy Floss. 5pm onwards October 24th

Halloween Spooktacular Head to Newcastle town centre for a day full of spooks and surprises for the whole family!

October 26th

Christmas Lights switch on Celebrate the start of the countdown to Christmas in Newcastle at our big Christmas lights switch-on extravaganza. There’ll be lots of family activities, live music, fireworks, fairground rides, Santa’s grotto and more.

November 16th

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Stage directions

by Richard Lane

WIN TICKETS TO SEE SEASONS GREETINGS AT THE NEW VIC

I

have to start with an apology over the last edition’s competition for tickets to see A Comedy of Erics. Unfortunately the wrong list was printed of the possible answers to the Question of David Graham’s alter ego. However one person did win, by contacting us spotting the error and gave the correct answer of Uncle Eric.

The current competition is to win two tickets to see the Alan Ayckbourn Seasons Greetings at the New Vic. The right answer IS on the list!

When families get together to celebrate a special occasion, there’s a danger that all hell will break loose. Particularly if you happen to be trapped for several days with all your relatives and copious amounts of alcohol…

Neville and Belinda are hosting their extended family over a long weekend. The presence of two tyrannical

uncles – Bernard, whose hamfisted annual puppet shows are a source of dread to young and old alike, and TV addict Harvey – promises to stir up trouble from the start. And that’s before you add to the mix broken toys, creaking marriages and guest novelist Clive, whose relationship with Belinda’s sister Rachel is going nowhere, causing him to look for love elsewhere.

Directed by the author, don’t miss this rare opportunity to see a sparkling new production of a truly classic Ayckbourn comedy.

This revival of Alan Ayckbourn’s classic comedy Season’s Greetings, directed by the author features a cast of nine: Matt Addis, Eileen Battye, Rachel Caffrey, Bill Champion, Andy Cryer, Michael Lyle, Frances Marshall, Mercy Ojelade and Leigh Symonds. Design is by Kevin Jenkins and lighting

design by Jason Taylor.

Season’s Greetings is on at the New Vic from 8th October until Saturday 26 October 2019. The latest Ayckbourn play Birthdays Past, Birthdays Present will alternate with Seasons Greetings.

Tickets, priced from £15.50, are available from the box office on 01782 717962 and online at newvictheatre.org.uk

To win 2 tickets to see Seasons Greetings – answer the following question.

(Circle your choice.)

WHICH OF THESE PLAYS WAS NOT WRITTEN BY ALAN AYCKBOURN? A.

WOMAN IN MIND

B. WAY UP STREAM

C. WAITING FOR GODOT

Name.............................................................. Address..................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................Daytime phone no.................................................

Please send your entry to Leek Life Magazine, 18 Tape St, Cheadle, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, ST10 1BD. Entries to be received by Tuesday October 1st.

Newcastle Life Issue 22.qxp_Newcastle Life 06/09/2019 11:28 Page 25

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volunteer appeal

Fundraising group calls for local members

A

group of people living across the Stoke and Newcastle area have marked September’s World Alzheimer’s Month by setting up a new fundraising group to help raise vital funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK; the UK’s largest dementia research charity.

The Potteries Fundraising Group will be running various events across the region throughout the next few months to help raise funds for dementia research and provide access to free health information literature.

Maureen Myers, Chair of the group, decided she wanted to do something to help Alzheimer’s Research UK in honour of her husband who had Vascular Dementia before he passed away.

Maureen was also a support worker for many years and volunteered at several support groups in the area, but her passion is now to fund research so that no more families have to endure the devastating effects of dementia.

She came up with the idea of setting up a fundraising group, and some friends and other local supporters of Alzheimer’s Research UK have joined her. They are now hoping others will join up too and help them in the fight against dementia.

The group, the first of its kind for the charity in Staffordshire, launched at the beginning of September and they are already starting to plan activities.

There are currently over 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK and Maureen is hoping that the fundraising group’s work will resonate with people all over the region.

She said: “Dementia has a huge impact on families, with over 4500 people living with the condition in Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastleunder-Lyme alone. I am delighted 26 Newcastle Life Issue 22

that the local community can now come together and help us support dementia research and raise awareness. Our first event is a sell-out quiz taking place in a few weeks’ time, but we are also planning collections and coffee mornings.

“The Potteries Fundraising Group aim to create a diverse and fun group of people who all share the goal of funding research into dementia. We would also love to hear from any local shops, bars, café’s or restaurants that may be able to donate a raffle prize or have a collecting pot at their till point in support of Alzheimer’s Research UK.” Zoe Baggott, Regional Fundraising Officer at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “We would like to say a

huge thanks to Maureen and everyone involved with The Potteries Fundraising Group for getting together and for joining the fightback against dementia.

“Our mission is to bring about the first life-changing treatment for dementia by 2025. We can’t do this without the amazing work of our fundraising groups all over the country. We are delighted to have our first fundraising group in Staffordshire, and we hope that the community will get involved and more people will sign up to help raise vital funds for dementia research.”

Anyone wishing to find out more, or to support the group can contact Zoe Baggott on 07469 852501, or email the group directly at arukpotteries@gmail.com

Pictured: The Alzheimer’s Research UK Potteries Fundraising Group.

Group Chair, Maureen Myers, is on the far right.

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NATIONAL LOTTERY FUNDING

Triple Lotto boost for community projects

A

total of 327 community projects across the West Midlands are set to receive a share of almost £6.5 million in National Lottery funding, including three worthy projects in Newcastle under Lyme.

Firstly, Ashley Memorial Hall in Newcastle will use their £10,000 share of funding to refurbish the kitchen in the hall building, improving facilities available to the local community. Ashley Memorial Hall has served the communities of Ashley, Loggerheads and the surrounding hamlets since the 1950′s. The Hall, which is a registered charity, is a facility that is well used by the local community and managed by a committee of local residents. In a website statement the chairman of the management committee, George Herbert said: “This is great news for the hall and will help us keep the hall as a great meeting place for classes, activities and family occasions. Thanks to all National Lottery players we will soon have a brand new kitchen and we have wasted no time in starting the work and getting in the new kitchen units and new roller shutters.”

North Staffordshire Asperger/Autism Association (NSAAA) have secured £9994 to provide activities for young adults living with autism, giving them the chance to develop their social and communication skills. Primarily, the NSAAA provides support, help and advice to individuals with an Autistic Spectrum Condition, their parents and carers. The charity tries to raise awareness in the community in a variety of

ways and can provide training when required.

Groups are held at Newcastle Congregational Church or PICL Centre.

Finally The Orme Amateur Boxing Club will use £3000 to deliver physical activity workshops and provide advice support, The project aims to promote the benefits of healthy lifestyles and improve participants’ wellbeing.

Matt Poole, Senior Head of Regional Funding for the Midlands at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “Young people are the experts in their own lives and, thanks to National Lottery players, we are able to support an exciting range of organisations and projects delivering the activities that they have told us they want in their communities.

“We have seen time again that when young people are in the lead, amazing things happen.

We are excited to see how this funding will be used to enable communities in the West Midlands to thrive.”

The National Lottery Community Fund is responsible for giving out money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest funder of community activity in the UK. Since 2017, it has awarded over £170 million to projects that support young people. To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk You can find more information about the North Staffordshire Asperger/Autsim Association http://www.nsaaa.org.uk/ Ashley Memorial Hall https://www.ashleymemorialhall.com/

100 years of local Brownies Appeal for memories and photos Were you a Newcastle Brownie? Did you help with a local pack?

1st Newcastle (St Paul’s) Brownies are celebrating their 100th birthday in 2020 and they would like to hear from you, especially if you have any Brownie related photos or anecdotes from years gone by.

The group are planning some celebration activities and would like to include these in the celebrations!

If you have any information, please contact gillpowell@hotmail.com or trudyreale@gmail.com

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MOTORING

Honda e set for official debut at 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show

H

onda has unveiled the first official images of its new Honda e electric vehicle (EV). The car is the next step towards Honda’s commitment to making 100% of its European automobile sales electrified by 2025 and is set to make its official public debut at 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show, alongside Honda’s range of electrified and sporty automobiles.

Honda e design details Developed with a focus on simplicity in design and usability, the Honda e will meet the needs of modern urban lifestyles through seamlessly integrated connected technologies and exceptional driving dynamics.

Clean external lines are accentuated by the Side Camera Mirror System that replaces conventional side view mirrors with compact cameras, providing live images to two six-inch screens inside the vehicle. The camera technology, a first in the compact segment, brings significant benefits for styling, safety, aerodynamics and refinement.

The car is distinguished in profile by its smooth styling contours, enhanced by pop-out door handles that provide a seamless look. Inside, a nextgeneration five screen full-width digital dashboard and connected infotainment system are incorporated within a relaxing and modern passenger cabin that uses subtle, contemporary materials.

The largest area of the Honda e’s full-width digital dashboard is occupied by dual 12.3-inch LCD touchscreens. These act as the primary infotainment displays, presenting a range of applications and connected infotainment services that help the car to seamlessly integrate with the owner’s modern urban lifestyle. As a result, the driver and passengers – whether the car is driving, parked or charging – can enjoy the same connectivity and comfort.

Honda e technical specifications The Honda e is equipped with a high-power electric motor available with two power outputs of 100 kW (136ps) or 113kW (154ps), and impressive torque of 315Nm. The 35.5kWh battery is one of the most compact in its class yet delivers a range of up to 220km* from a single charge, perfect for every day urban commuting. A fast-charging capability also allows recharge to 80% capacity in 30 minutes.

On the road, the car delivers a responsive and fun experience, with the powerful electric motor driving the rear wheels for a sporty and connected feel. The

30 Newcastle Life Issue 22

Honda e delivers outstanding acceleration from a standing start and will reach 0-100km/h in approximately 8 seconds.

Honda e connected services and artificial intelligence Connected services and applications accessed via the touchscreen interface can also be activated using voice commands to engage with the Honda Personal Assistant service. The intuitive Honda Personal Assistant is a smart artificial intelligence (AI) facility that uses unique contextual understanding to create natural conversations and provide access to a range of online services.

The unique Honda Personal Assistant is activated by saying, “OK Honda”, followed by the question or instruction. Machine learning enables the technology to develop a greater understanding of an individuals’ voice over time, in order to deliver more accurate responses.

Away from the car, Honda e owners can enjoy the peace-of-mind of being able to stay connected to their vehicle remotely through the My Honda+ smartphone application.

The mobile service, originally launched in 2017, has been updated to deliver a wider range of functionality, including easy navigation to a detailed vehicle condition report, remote climate control, and security and location monitoring. Additional EV-specific functions include battery charge control and range monitor, while charging station and navigation search results can be sent to the car from a mobile device.

The Honda e is also accessible using a digital key, allowing the car to be locked and unlocked using only the smartphone application.

Customers can make a reservation for priority ordering online in UK, Germany, France and Norway, or register their interest in other European markets on Honda national websites.

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motoring

V

olvo Car UK is boosting its in-car connectivity offering by fitting a data SIM card as standard to all its new models. The feature is being introduced on all Model Year 2020 cars from today, and can be retro-fitted with ease to any that have already been delivered to customers.

The SIM card allows the driver and their passengers to be fully connected at all times, with access to 100GB of data for up to one year, making this the longest and most generous Vodafone plan currently offered by a car maker in the UK. What’s more, this facility is available for the first 12 months for no extra cost on top of the car’s initial purchase price.

Operation of the SIM card, which is supported by Vodafone, is independent of any of the occupants’ own SIM-equipped devices, so there is no impact on their personal or business data usage, or device’s battery charge.

The provision of an integrated SIM card brings multiple benefits in terms of access to entertainment and information apps, Real Time Traffic Information (RTTI) for efficient journey planning, and cutting-edge connected safety services. Users also benefit from a stronger signal while on the move, since reception is through their car’s antenna.

The SIM card creates an on-board WiFi hotspot that can be used by up to eight devices.

This makes life easier and more enjoyable for everyone on board – especially those customers with children, who can keep themselves entertained on long drives by streaming music or movies, or playing online games. It also gives seamless access to all the native information and entertainment apps that are built into the car’s Sensus touchscreen system, including Spotify, TuneIn, Google Local Search, Yelp, Park and Pay, Record & Send, Glympse, Weather and WikiLocation.

It allows Real Time Traffic Information to be 32 Newcastle Life Issue 22

VOLVO ADDS ‘BIG DATA’ TO EVERY NEW CAR IT SELLS IN THE UK gathered and viewed on the navigation screen, keeping you up to date on incidents and delays, and provided with efficient re-routing options for your programmed journeys. Further convenience is provided by over-the-air updates for the Sensus system’s navigation maps and apps.

Automatic roaming covers 42 European countries and overseas territories, so performance is uninterrupted on any long, crosscontinental drives.

As part of Volvo’s industry-leading commitment to safety, the SIM card also enables alerts to be received and transmitted when a similarly connected (Volvo) car’s hazard lights are triggered nearby, or slippery road surfaces are encountered. By sharing information in real time via a cloud-based network, Volvo cars can give drivers early warnings about potentially dangerous conditions ahead, reducing the risk of an accident.

For customers who have already taken delivery of a Model Year 2020 Volvo, the SIM card can be installed at the next workshop visit upon request, or they can contact their retailer to organise a convenient time for the necessary work to be done.

Kristian Elvefors, Volvo Car UK Managing Director, said: “Being connected is a hugely important part of modern life, and in-car connectivity brings a whole host of benefits in terms of entertainment, information, journey planning and safety while on the move. By fitting a data SIM card to every new Volvo, we are ensuring that our customers can enjoy the cutting-edge technology in our cars to the full, while also making their lives easier and more enjoyable.”

For more information on Volvo’s in-car connectivity, please visit www.volvocars.com/uk/about/humaninnovation/future-of-driving/connectivity

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QUIZ CORNER

Let’s get quizzical

COMPILED BY PAUL STEELE

1.The Stoke suburb of Etruria was named by Josiah Wedgwood after a district in which country?

2. What's the minimum age to become President of the USA? 3. Swinley Bottom is part of which UK horse racecourse?

4. In which three holiday destinations do Butlin's have their resorts?

5.The latest series of 'Love Island' finished in July but on which island is it filmed?

6.The title characters of which E. Nesbit novel share the surname Waterbury?

7. Brighton, Hastings and Eastbourne are located in which county?

8. What species of bird did Florence Nightingale keep as a pet named Athena, which she carried about with her in her pocket?

9. Who played the title role in the 1998 film version of 'Dr. Dolittle'?

10.The recent Channel 5 series 'Celebrity 5 Go Barging' passed through Froghall, Cheddleton, Leek and Stoke-on-Trent but can you name one of the five celebrities on the series?

An Apple Quiz for Apple Day on October 21st 1. What was the surname of 1980s chart topping duo Mel and Kim? 2. Who are the parents of Apple Martin born in 2004?

3.Computing giant Apple have their headquarters in which US state?

4. In cockney rhyming slang what does 'Apple and Pears' mean?

5. Which group founded the record label Apple Records in 1968?

6. Which fruit is sometimes called the love apple?

7. According to the proverb what does an apple a day do?

8.Which game, often played at Halloween, has been called 'dooking' in Scotland?

9 Apple sauce is a usual condiment with which meat?

10. Who is claimed to have been inspired by watching an apple fall from a tree for his theory of gravity?

General Knowledge Answers: 1. Italy; 2. 35 years old; 3. Epsom; 4. Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness; 5.

Majorca; 6. The Railway Children; 7. West Sussex; 8. Owl; 9. Eddie Murphy; 10. Amanda Barrie, Anita Harris, John Prescott, Shaun Williamson or Michael Buerk; Apple Answers: 1. Appleby; 2. Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow; 3. California; 4. Stairs; 5. The Beatles; 6. Tomato; 7. Keeps the Doctor Away; 8. Apple Bobbing; 9. Pork; 10. Isaac Newton

34 Newcastle Life Issue 22

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

General knowledge quiz

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