Stone Life Aug Sept 2017

Stone

& Eccleshall AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017

Life

Celebrating 70 years of Eccleshall Show Plans finalised for milestone event

WIN

• FAMILY PASS TO TRENTHAM MONKEY FOREST • FAMILY TICKET TO ECCLESHALL SHOW • CUT AND BLOWDRY AT EVANGELINE’S

EDITOR’S LETTER

Celebrating the diversity of local talent

Lorna Gould Contents Editor lorna@timesandecho.co.uk Sophie Cotton & Tracey Wardle Design & Production Jane Walters Advertising Manager Tel: 07817 128582 jane@timesandecho.co.uk Tom Brian Advertising Sales Tel: 07855 242693 tom@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 Facebook - Search for Stone and Eccleshall Life

nside this edition we recall the successes of some of the community events to have taken place already this summer, while looking ahead to the remaining festivities on the local events calendar.

One such event is the Eccleshall Show. Having taken place for the first time back in 1947 this year marks the 70th anniversary of the traditional event and organisers are promising visitors a truly marvellous day out.

This edition also draws attention to the diverse range of talents that this area is home to as we catch up Joe Clarke MBE who has recently been presented with an honorary degree from Keele University, as well as the Eccleshall First Responders who have achieved a Queen’s Award for the excellent work they do locally and also agricultural front-runner Harriet Wilson who has received The Farmers Weekly Rising Star Award for her work in championing farm produce.

We also hear from the team at Pirehill First School, where pupils received a valuable lesson in safe play shortly before the end of term. With several weeks of school holiday still to be enjoyed now is the Cover photo courtesy perfect time to ensure your brood know just of Noel Bennett how important it is to look noelbennettphotography.co.uk out for dangers when 01785 813888 they’re out and about.

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Lorna

Aug/Sept

Editor’s letter ..............................................3 Eccleshall Show ..........................................6

Stone Festival..............................................8

Eccleshall Community First Responders .10

CONTENTS

Health and Wellbeing...............................26 Eccleshall Dental Clinic............................28

Evangeline’s of Stone................................30

Charity Skydive .........................................31

Dressage Champion..................................32

Olympian Honoured.................................33 Win for Wedgwood ...................................34

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust......................35 Gardening .................................................36 Home Improvements ...............................38

Eccleshall YFC ..........................................40

Sandon and District Village Fete ..............12

Abbots Bromley School .............................41

Recipes ......................................................14

Abbotsholme School .................................43

Sandon Hall...............................................13

Stone Food and Drink Festival .................16 Stage Directions ........................................18

Stone Townswomen’s Guild......................19 The Marquetry Society .............................20 Fillybrook Dental Practice ........................23

Pirehill First School ..................................42 Walton Priory Middle School ...................44 Hearing Dogs for Deaf People ..................46

Legal Matters ............................................48

Investment Matters ..................................49

Quiz Corner...............................................50

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August/September 2017 5

ECCLESHALL SHOW

ECCLESHALL SHOW WIN ONE OF THRE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS TO DOMINATE THIS YEAR’S SHOW

017 will see the marking of a significant milestone for one of Stone and Eccleshall’s most cherished local events. This year will be the 70th anniversary of the hugely popular Eccleshall Show, which took place for the very first time back in 1947.

By all accounts this will feature as a momentous occasion in the show’s history, with the event

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having taken place every other year bar one since its inception.

This year’s show will be held at Sugnall Parks on September 2nd and several special activities are planned, including an exhibition of photographs of local rural life over the past 70 years, to mark the juncture. In addition, anyone coming to the show who was born in 1947 will enjoy the added bonus of free entry!

Show Chairman Edward Lambert told Stone and Eccleshall Life Magazine: “We aim to make the 70th show really memorable and of course we are hoping for a fine day.”

In addition to a host of main ring events the Lichfield Flyball Dog Team will once again be entertaining the crowds as will Eccleshall Young Farmers and there will also be a decorated

ECCLESHALL SHOW

W: CHANCE TO EE FAMILY TICKETS wheelbarrow competition.

The pet dog agility competition and children’s sports will also take place in the main ring.

The massive craft and horticulture marquee will host well over 100 classes and a huge turnout of classic vehicles is expected.

Other attractions around the showground include the companion dog show, shopping mall, children’s funfair, Punch and Judy, ferret show and birds display.

As usual the equestrian section is expected to be well supported.

Schedules for all these events will be available to download on the show website.

Eccleshall Show Society was founded in 1947 with the aim of providing a social event for the local community. The show has expanded

significantly in recent years but it remains a very traditional rural event run by volunteers. The generosity of local sponsors helps to defray the considerable costs of staging such a show.

Extra pairs on hands for the show build up or on the day are always welcome. Please contact Sheila Kettle on 01785 284880 if you are interested.

Stone and Eccleshall Life Magazine has teamed up with the organisers of this year’s Eccleshall Show to give readers the chance to win one of three family tickets to the 2017 Show. For full details on how to enter simply visit the competitions section of our website www.timesechoandlife.co.uk.

August/September 2017 7

STONE FESTIVAL

A CELEBRATION OF THE T

aising funds as well as fun has been at the heart of Stone Festival for many years and for the 2017 event organisers successfully delivered another exciting programme, enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.

The hugely popular week-long Stone Festival returned to the town during June and with it came a host of fantastic community events including an array of concerts, sporting competitions, races and organised walks in addition to the ever-popular carnival day.

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As an event which evolves and develops with each passing year some aspects of Stone Festival have over time naturally fallen by the wayside wayside while other, new ideas prove successful and continue to be featured as part of the Festival programme indefinitely.

One such event is the soapbox derby, which took place for the second consecutive year ahead of the main Festival Week on Bank Holiday Monday 29th May, and what a spectacle it provided to the huge crowds which had gathered

STONE FESTIVAL

E TOWN AND ITS PEOPLE to witness the action unfold as intrepid competitors battled it out for a top place.

Carnival day proved to be as exciting as ever with countless stalls and activities for visitors to browse and enjoy. Not forgetting, of course, the ever popular Parade – this once again offered something very special for visitors to the town who enjoyed watching the colourful floats, walking groups, dancers and ornate vehicles making their way through the town.

Although saddened that poor weather forced

the cancellation of the Steeplechase and Dog Derby organisers say they will be back next year along with all the old favourites.

For full results of the events which formed part of the 2017 Stone Festival visit the website: www.stonefestival.co.uk.

Anyone wishing to take an active role in any of the existing events or even to introduce a new one the committee would love to hear from you. The group can be contacted via email: info@stonefestival.co.uk.

August/September 2017 9

ROYAL HONOUR FOR VOLUNTEER MEDICS ECCLESHALL COMMUNITY FIRST RESPONDERS

RESPONDERS DELIGHTED TO RECEIVE QUEEN’S AWARD

dedicated group of volunteer medics have received the Royal seal of approval for the lifesaving work they have been carrying in the local area.

The Eccleshall Community First Responders have recently received a most exciting notice from Buckingham Palace, informing them that they are in line for a 2017 Queen’s Award.

The award is to be presented in recognition of voluntary services, and is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK in acknowledgement of outstanding work done in the community.

It was created in 2002 to celebrate the anniversary of The Queen’s coronation.

Group Coordinator, Martin Watson, told Stone and Eccleshall Life Magazine: “This award is the equivalent of the MBE for voluntary groups and has been awarded to Eccleshall Community First Responders for their work in providing emergency medical aid, training and lifesaving equipment to those living and working in the local

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community.

“We are absolutely delighted and honoured to have been given this award. It is clearly a testament to the efforts of all those involved in Eccleshall Community First Responders, who voluntarily give their time to support the group either as a responder helping those in need of medical aid or as fund-raiser.”

Community First Responders are volunteers trained by West Midlands Ambulance to a nationally recognised level and provide lifesaving treatment to people in their local communities.

They respond to 999 calls in the local area and give medical aid until the Ambulance Service arrive on scene.

They receive no funding from central sources and rely entirely on donations and fund raising in order to provide the service to their communities.

The volunteer responders give their time for operations and training freely.

For more information about the Eccleshall Community First Responders group please visit the website: www.eccleshallcfrs.org.uk.

Photograph provided courtesy of Caroline Burley Photography.

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WIN A FAMILY PASS and MONKEY SOFT TOY Trentham Monkey Forest is home to 140 free roaming Barbary macaques.

Walk amongst the monkeys and watch as they live in complete freedom within the 60-acre woodland.

Visitors are free to walk the ¾ of a mile pathway through the forest amongst the monkeys.

As well as information boards along the woodland walk, guides are situated throughout the forest to answer questions.

Plus, you can watch one of the hourly feeding talks to learn even more.

There is also an onsite information centre, video room, two play areas and Banana Café and Jungle Shop.

To be in with a chance of winning a family pass to Trentham Monkey Forest and a monkey soft toy simply visit the competition page on our new website www.timesechoandlife.co.uk.

Closing date: 1st September 2017

August/September 2017 11

SANDON AND DISTRICT VILLAGE FETE

VILLAGERS RALLY TO RE-START SUMMER EVENT

t came as a real blow to the local summer events calendar when the 2016 Sandon and District Village Fete proved unable to make it off the ground due to low volunteer numbers.

This year however, thanks to a newly bolstered organising committee, the event is all set to make a welcome return and with a whole host of great attractions on the agenda to suit all ages and interests.

Over the last 15 years the Sandon Village Fete Committee has helped to raise total of ÂŁ32,750 for local good causes, something its members are rightly incredibly proud of.

The 2017 fete will be held at The Cricket Ground, Sandon (ST18 0DN) on Saturday 12th

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August 2017 starting at 1pm, proceeds from which will be shared between The Midlands Air Ambulance and Oak Tree Rural Project.

Visitors can look forward to all sorts of competitions, stalls and entertainment including: A dog show, land train, pony rides, bouncy castle, fairground organ, car boot sale, horticulture, cookery and crafts competitions, beer stand and stalls in marquees such as cakes, books, tombola and more.

There will be musical entertainment, with performances from Stone Town Band amongst others plus a classic car and vintage tractor display.

For more information take a look at the website: www.sandonvillagefete.btck.co.uk .

Music under the stars I

SANDON HALL

magine spending a late summer evening on the sweeping lawn of an historic country house listening to music some of the UK’s finest musical talent…

Sandon Hall’s two-night musical spectacular will offers visitors just that. On Friday evening the UK’s favourite musical theatre concert tour – Beyond the Barricade – will take the stage to recreate original West End and Broadway musical hit songs with amazing authenticity. With a cast made up of past principal performers from Les Miserables, this two hour show is a must-see for fans of musical theatre.

Saturday evening, meanwhile, will see Gordon Giltrap - widely regarded as one of the best acoustic guitar players in the world - draw on a career spanning 5 decades and a wide range of genres including of classical, soaring prog rock and folk guitar pieces - to entertain the crowds.

The evening will then take a more classical tone as Access All Arias, the hugely talented three-part harmony group featuring Sarah Ryan, Helen Hobson and Sarah Eyden, presents a classical repertoire with trademark humour and

personality.

Sandon Hall, lying off the A51 between Stafford and Stone lends the perfect backdrop to this celebration of sublime music. With the imposing neo-Jacobean house forming a backdrop to performances, the audience can relax in the 50 acre formal garden’s late summer glory. Picnics are welcome and a beer tent also serving wine and artisan gins will offer refreshment throughout.

Tickets are on sale at www.sandonhall.co.uk

August/September 2017 13

RECIPES

Fruity Pimm’s Jelly with Luxury Vanilla Ice Cream n afternoon of relaxation in a summers garden is the epitome of what it means to be British at this time of the year. And what could possibly be more quintessentially British than tucking into a fresh fruit summer jelly accompanied by homemade vanilla ice cream?

Unlikely though it may be that more

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Fruity Pimm’s Jelly Ingredients: • 5 leaves gelatine • 150ml Pimm's No 1 • 300ml lemonade • 150 ml ginger ale • 200g soft fruit, such as strawberries and raspberries

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convincing is required, the cherry on the proverbial cake is the fact that this particular fruit jelly is laced with the favourite summer gin based spirit - Pimm’s No1. So here are our recipes for you to try during August and September – a delicious summertime dessert perfect for enjoying indoors or out.

Method • Soak the gelatine leaves in a bowl of cold water for 5 mins, or until soft. While the gelatine is soaking, warm the Pimm's, lemonade and ginger ale in a saucepan. Divide the fruit between 6 glasses or sundae dishes.

• Squeeze the water out of the gelatine leaves and add to the warm liquid, stirring until dissolved.

Pour the mixture over the fruit, then cool and chill for about 4 hours, or until the jellies are set.

RECIPES

Luxury Vanilla Ice Cream Ingredients: • 284ml carton double cream • 300ml full fat milk • 115g golden caster sugar • 1 vanilla pod • 3 large free-range egg yolks

Method: • Pour milk into a medium heavy-based pan, then tip in half the sugar. Slit the vanilla pod down its length with a small sharp knife and scoop out as many of the tiny black seeds as you can into the mixture. Cut the pod into three and drop it into the pan.

• Heat the milk mixture over a low heat, stirring occasionally, until it almost boils – you’ll see a few bubbles at the edge. Take off the heat and set aside for 30 minutes so the vanilla can infuse.

• Put the egg yolks into a bowl with the rest of the sugar and beat with an electric hand beater for about 2 minutes until the mixture has thickened, is paler in colour and falls in thick ribbons when you lift the beaters. Using a measuring jug, scoop out about 125ml/4fl oz of the cream mixture and beat into the egg yolks to slacken them. Reheat

the cream until it just comes to the boil, take off the heat and stir in the egg yolk mixture.

• Return the pan to a low heat and cook, stirring all the time with a wooden spoon, for 8-10 minutes, until the custard is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon. Watch that it doesn’t boil – as soon as you see any bubbles about to burst to the surface, it should be thick enough, so take the pan off the heat so the mixture doesn’t curdle.

• Pour the custard into a heatproof bowl, then sit it in a bigger bowl one third full of iced water to cool (this takes about 20 minutes). Stir occasionally to stop a skin forming. Put the bowl of custard in the fridge for 3-4 hours, preferably overnight, so it gets really cold.

• Remove the vanilla pod pieces from the mixture. Whip the cream so it’s light and floppy, not too stiff, and fold it into the cold, then slowly pour in the cold custard.

• Freeze for 3-4 hours, stirring once an hour until almost frozen, then freeze for a further hours minimum. (It will keep in the freezer for 3 months but don’t take it out, then refreeze.)

Remove from the freezer 15 minutes before serving.

August/September 2017 15

SAVE THE DATE FOR G GASTRONOMIC GATH STONE FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL

TALKS, TASTINGS, MASTERCLASSES AND MORE!

ith the Stone Food & Drink Festival now approaching, food and drink fans are urged to keep the weekend of Friday 6th, Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th October clear in their calendar.

A full week of food and drink related events will take place in and around charming Stone; with local pubs, restaurants and shops all getting into the festival spirit. From quizzes and themed meals to special offers and evenings of live entertainment, there will be plenty to enjoy; all culminating in the county’s biggest foodie gathering on Westbridge

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Park from Friday 6th – Sunday 8th October.

Visitors can browse over 100 stalls to browse in the gourmet marquee, while foodies looking to hone their skills during their visit will not be disappointed. Top local chefs will be sharing recipes and tips on the hour, every hour, in the demonstration kitchen. Those who fancy getting ‘hands on’ with food can take part in Cookery Masterclasses, which are bookable online in advance to avoid disappointment, while in the Talks and Tastings Tent exhibitors will wax lyrical about products ranging from wine and beer to cheese and butchery demonstrations; with some surprise topics yet to be announced.

Families will find plenty to keep the youngsters busy too - on festival Saturday and Sunday

GLORIOUS, THERING Professor Panic will put on free circus skills workshops and shows in the Big Top, while KiddyCook North Staffs will offer free kids’ cookery classes. A fun yet educational foodie treasure trail will run all weekend, with face painting and craft activities also on offer.

There is also great live music to enjoy while enjoying a pint from numerous Staffordshire brewers in attendance; whilst an elegant wine, champagne and cocktail bar offers something for everyone. And when it comes to eating over the ‘big weekend’ visitors will be spoilt for choice, with a host of street food stands offering flavours from around the world.

The 2017 Stone Food & Drink festival is planned to take place on Friday 6th, Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th October. For further details head to www.stonefooddrink.org.uk.

STONE FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL

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BOREHOLE A WARM AND WELCOMING MICROPUB Children and dogs welcome until 8pm Off licence on the premises just like the old days...

Purchase bottled beers, cask ales and ciders bring your own containers

Unit 2 Mount Road Industrial Estate, Mount Road, Stone, ST15 8LL Tel: 01785 813581 OPENING TIMES: 12 noon to 9.30pm Sun to Thurs 12 noon - 11.00pm Fri & Sat

August/September 2017 17

Stage Directions

by Richard Lane

MILTON JONES IS NEARLY OUT THERE T

op comedian and TV regular, Milton Jones, is heading to Stafford Gatehouse Theatre later this summer with his work in progress show, ‘Nearly Out There’.

Milton Jones is back on the road with another tour but unfortunately it isn’t quite ready yet. Don’t panic though – he’s a professional, it’s the guy with the loud shirts and messed up hair from Mock

the Week, Live at the Apollo, Michael McIntyre’s Roadshow and multiple series on Radio 4.

“ABSURDIST ONE-LINE MASTERPIECES” The Times “HE’S FAST ABSURD AND VERY FUNNY” Radio Times “THE BEST ONE-LINER MERCHANT IN BRITISH COMEDY” Chortle “NO-ONE CAN TOUCH JONES WHEN HE HITS HIS STRIDE” The Guardian It’s basically an evening in the company of an idiot. Or is he? Yes he is. Only come if you like jokes, though. If not you’ll be cross.

Milton Jones ‘Nearly Out There’ will take place at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre on Wednesday 30th August at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced at £18.50and are available from the Box Office on 01785 619080 or online via www.staffordgatehousetheatr e.co.uk

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STONE TOWNSWOMEN’S GUILD

Community group celebrates seven decade history LADIES LOOK FORWARD TO ANNIVERSARY FESTIVITIES

n the post-war Britain of 1947 life was thoroughly threadbare and was a far cry from the comparatively luxurious lifestyles we are accustomed to today. Despite the war having ended two years earlier, rationing and the ethos of ‘make-do and mend’ was still a prevalent way of life for all families and housewives in particular.

In spite of the struggles being endured by women up and down the country, and in the face of the dismalness of it all, one resilient bunch of local ladies took it upon themselves to launch a brand new community group.

This group was, of course, the Stone Townswomen’s Guild, a group that seven decades later is still going strong to this very day.

In August of this year the Stone Guild, usually referred to as ‘TG’, will be celebrating its 70th year with members looking forward to a buffet lunch to be held at the usual venue in Stone. All the members are freely invited and after lunch, some of them may provide reminiscences of their time with the Guild.

Commenting on the anniversary milestone and giving us an insight into what being a member of the Stone Townswomen’s Guild entails, Chairman Pam Sinclair told Stone and Eccleshall Life Magazine: “It is quite an achievement that a community group has had a continuous presence

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in the village of Stone since 1947.

“During each year, at monthly meetings, many different speakers or demonstrators come along to give talks, enjoying light refreshments with members at the end of the afternoon.

“The ladies also have opportunities to join the other eleven Staffordshire Guilds in events further afield. These are organised by the North Staffordshire Federation of TG. There is usually an Afternoon Tea in March held at a hotel in Hanley, a Quiz Night in April, and there will be a Carol Service in Stafford on the first Saturday afternoon in December.

“Nationally there is also a Carol Service held in one of the big cities in the British Isles. The National Council Meeting is held each year in June – this year in Sheffield – where a few hundred ladies from all over the British Isles congregated.

“Members receive, four times a year, an attractive, glossy magazine Townswoman which is full of interesting articles, of details of national events and many excellent photographs of other Guilds in the UK.” Newcomers are most welcome to Stone TG which meets on the third Wednesday of each month at Bromfield Court Community room in Stone at 2.15pm.

For more details may be obtained from Pam Sinclair on 01785 812561 or from other committee members: Ann 01785 815889 or Pat: 01785 813143.

August/September 2017 19

THE MARQUE THE MARQUETRY SOCIETY

embers of the Eccleshall-based Staffordshire Marquetry Group are putting their feet up and enjoying a wellearned rest after hosting the Marquetry Society's 65th Annual Exhibition at Gladstone Pottery Museum.

The Exhibition, which featured over 200 exhibits from UK and abroad, closed on Saturday 3rd June following the Society's AGM and prizegiving ceremony.

The Staffordshire Group was particularly successful, winning four classes and taking numerous other awards to retain the Marquetry Society's inter-group challenge shield.

There were awards for Elizabeth Head, Ron Butters, John Jeggo and Quentin Smith, but the stars of the show were Kerry Rath and Brian Freeman. Kerry won three classes, including the prestigious premier pictorial class, and Brian, the Group's Chairman, won the advanced miniature class and the Rosebowl for best picture in show, with his wonderful miniature picture titled "Titania Sleeping in the Moonlight", which was adapted from a painting by John Simmons.

Group Secretary Quentin Smith, who has just completed six years as President of the Marquetry Society, told Stone and Eccleshall Life Magazine: “This was another solid performance from the Group. Our members are supremely skilled and regularly achieve top awards at national level.

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“However, the main thing is that we enjoy making our marquetry in a friendly and supportive environment. We meet every Wednesday evening at the Methodist Church Hall in Stone Road, Eccleshall, and would be happy to welcome anyone who would like to know more about the art and craft of marquetry.”

Further details of the group's activities can be found on their website staffordshiremarquetry.org.uk or from Quentin on 01785 805614.

The photos show exhibits as follows: 1. ‘Tower Bridge’ by Kerry Rath. First place in Premier class; 2. ‘Titania Sleeping in the Moonlight (after John Simmons)’ by Brian Freeman. First place in Advanced Miniature Class, Ron Gibbons Award for best miniature in show and the Marquetry Society Rosebowl for best exhibit in show; 3. and 4.’Bird Table by Kerry Rath.

First place in Advanced Applied class and the Artistic Merit award; 5. ‘Shepherds' Delight’ by Kerry Rath. First place in the Three-Veneer class.

Photographs supplied courtesy of Peter White.

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E OF SUCCESS

THE MARQUETRY SOCIETY

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Helping you to smile with FILLYBROOK HOUSE DENTAL PRACTICE

FROM GENERAL DENTISTRY TO SPECIALITY SERVICES FILLYBROOK HOUSE DENTAL PRACTICE WILL KEEP YOU SMILING

ffering comprehensive dental care that is both affordable and convenient, the Fillybrook House Dental Practice, located right here in Stone, is leading the way in quality dental treatment.

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The practice, located at The Fillybrooks in Stone, was established back in 2001 and is based upon a strong ethos of excellent customer service with treatments provided within a calm, peaceful and friendly environment.

Conducting each appointment with a personal and caring approach, the dedicated team of dental professionals are committed to building close and trusted relationships with each and every patient.

At Fillybrook House Dental Practice patients will find modern and comfortable surroundings

th confidence

where staff are trained to help nervous patients feel as relaxed as possible throughout their time at the surgery.

At the helm of the practice is Dr Mohammad Hirji, a Bristol University dentistry graduate with a specific interest in caring for phobic dental patients. From his own, personal childhood experiences he understands how it feels and very much empathises with nervous patients and is totally committed to his career in general dentistry.

Dr Hirji’s wife Fi also forms an integral part of the practice, underpinning the work of her husband and acting as the backbone to the running of the dental surgery. As co-director and equal partner in the business, she now steers the practice forward ensuring that the focus remains firmly on patient care and making sure the patient is always the centre of focus rather than profit.

Aside from the concentration on patient comfort, the modern facilities at Fillybrook House help maintain its stance as one of the area’s leading dental practices. Each of the individual consultation rooms are fully equipped with the latest technology and state-of-the-art apparatus, with ergonomically-designed chairs offering the ultimate comfort.

Some of the rooms are on the ground floor as part of the practice’s commitment to accessibility for all patients.

Since opening its doors to the public 16 years ago Fillybrook House Dental Practice has generated volumes of patient testimonials, patient loyalty and referrals to family and friends, thanks in no small part to the understanding and compassionate approach adopted by all members of the team.

Each highly trained dental professional is committed to communicating effectively with patients throughout their dental journey to ensure that each check-up, treatment or procedure is carried out with as little stress as possible.

Fillybrook House Dental Practice offers a range of treatments including general dentistry, orthodontics, cosmetic and aesthetic services as well as emergency dental treatment with 24 hour appointments available in some instances. For further information or to make an appointment please telephone 01785 812412.

FILLYBROOK HOUSE DENTAL PRACTICE

Now recruiting new patients on Denplan.

A practice that is committed to look after your complete oral health care needs.

Visit the practice and see for yourself the warm, friendly and comfortable environment and read testimonials from our patients.

Dr Mohammed Hirji BSc (Hons), Mphil (med), BDS, GDL/LLB (Hons), LPC, GDC 72668.

01785 812412 8 The Fillybrooks, Stone, ST15 0DJ www.fillybrookhouse.co.uk info@fillybrookhouse.co.uk August/September 2017 23

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August/September 2017 25

HOW TO LOOK AFT FEET WITH REFLEXO

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Hints and tips on wellbeing with Diane Connor FdSc MFHT

he modern world is not good for our feet as old cobbled roads have given way to concrete pavements which has resulted in loss of texture so the feet do not have a variety of textures to walk on and that can leave the feet susceptible to injury. Problems can be avoided by regular Reflexology treatments and varying the textures that the feet walk upon.

Our feet are excellent at adapting to a certain set of demands, such as walking up a grassy hill or along smooth pavements. If these demands don’t vary enough, the feet and also the rest of the body pays a price. As with all forms of exercise, underuse of the foot structures can lead to a decline in strength which may cause complex health conditions. The feet are also capable of adapting to stressful situations by shifting responsibility from the correct part of its

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anatomy onto another part, ill-designed for such functions.

A Full Range of Motion To improve the health of the feet it is important to walk run or stand on different surfaces that stimulate different pressure sensors and also allow each foot to go through its full range of movement .The foot reacts to varying surfaces by its ability to move in four basic directions. The most used directions are experienced during the heel –to-toe movement of a footstep. The inward and outward movements of the foot are the two less common movements. Practising exercises for these four ranges of movement gives the foot its full range of movement.

The surfaces that we walk on play a vital role in shock absorption because if the surface we

FTER YOUR OLOGY walk on does not accept part of the shock, the body must absorb it all. The hardness of a surface determines how much shock the body absorbs. Sand and grass are much better for the feet and the body than concrete, asphalt or hardwood.

How Can Reflexology Help My Feet?

A Professionally Qualified Reflexologist will apply pressure techniques to the feet and hands to stimulate specific reflex areas with the intention of producing a beneficial response in the corresponding areas of the body. The feet and hands contain a map of all the organs in the body which allows the Reflexologist to easily target the correct part on the feet or hands to work on.

Look after your feet and they will reward you with better health.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

TITTENSOR P O D I AT RY

Offering various treatments: nail cut & treatment of skin & nail infections, removal of hard skin & corns, verruca treatment, ingrowing toenails, nail surgery.

• OVER 15 YEARS OF NHS EXPERIENCE • BACHELOR HONOURS DEGREE IN PODIATRY MEDICINE For an appointment please call

Leila Burgess mobile: 07946 353816 (please leave a message & you will be contacted)

20 Bracken Close, Copeland Avenue, Winghouse Lane, Tittensor, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, ST12-9JD Member of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists and HCPC registered

August/September 2017 27

Dental and Cosmetic Treatments

• Comprehensive new patient examination using digital radiographs • Emergency and late night appointments • IV sedation available for anxious and dental phobic patients • Cutting edge equipment and facilities to aid diagnosis • Trained in cosmetic dentistry and facial aesthetics • A range of payment plans for all the family, and Interest-free finance • Teeth whitening and cosmetic braces • Dental implants

Principal Dentist Dr Ashok Jakhu and Dr Pritpal Matharu 6 Castle Street, Eccleshall, Staffordshire, ST21 6DF

Tel: 01785 850199 www.eccleshalldentalclinic.co.uk | reception@eccleshalldentalclinic.co.uk Mon 8.30am-8.00pm, Tuesday, Wed, Thur 8.30am-6.00pm, Fri 8.30am-4.30pm Wheelchair access and ample free parking within Eccleshall

28 August/September 2017

Invisalign clear braces

ECCLESHALL DENTAL CLINIC

By Ashok Jakhu and Pritpal Matharu of Eccleshall Dental Clinic

re you one of the millions of adults in need of adult braces who are unhappy, selfconscious or even embarrassed of your

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smile?

Many adults spend their entire lives covering their mouths when they laugh, smile or talk. They rule out braces because they do not want to wear adult metal braces for years or they are concerned that other corrective teeth straightening procedures could be too invasive or too expensive.

Invisalign clear braces are designed to treat a wide range of straightening issues, from minor tooth movements to more complex cases.

We are pleased to announce we are one of Staffordshire/Shropshire’s largest providers of Invisalign clear braces.

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign can be worn simply and easily and fit into your daily routine without any fuss or embarrassment. There are no metal wires or brackets, so no need to worry about mouth irritations as the aligners are comfortable to wear and can be easily removed for eating, drinking, brushing and flossing as normal. Your treatment consists of a series of nearly invisible, removable aligners that you change every two weeks for the next set of aligners. Each aligner is individually manufactured for your teeth, and your teeth only.

As you replace each aligner, your teeth will move – little by little, week by week – until they have

straightened to the final position.

You get to see a virtual 3D treatment plan (ClinCheck© treatment plan). This shows the series of movements your teeth will go through over the course of the treatment allowing you to see upfront what your teeth are expected to look like at the end of the treatment. From the results of the ClinCheck treatment plan, your custommade, clear aligners are produced especially for you.

Invisalign aligners are nearly invisible. No one may even notice that you’re wearing these virtually invisible aligners, making Invisalign a seamless fit with your lifestyle and day-to-day interactions with others.

Invisalign aligners are removable giving you the flexibility to eat and drink what you want during treatment by simply removing the aligners. And you can also remove the aligners to brush and floss as you normally would for fresh breath and to maintain good oral hygiene.

Please call the practice on 01785 850199 or email reception@eccleshalldentalclinic.co.uk to book in for your free consultation.

August/September 2017 29

EVANGELINE’S OF STONE

WIN A VISIT TO LUXURY SALON

FREE CUT AND BLOW DRY FOR ONE LUCKY READER

vangeline’s is a family owned business in beautiful Stone. It is unique because it brings everything under one roof, providing the very best haircare, luxury beauty, nails and spa treatments including exceptional massage therapy and facials as well as a wide selection of the latest in trend fashion clothing and accessories.

Directors, brother and sister duo Rebecca and Daniel Beaman and their team are friendly, professional and always take time to ensure you adore every moment of your experience at Evangeline’s.

Evangeline’s has carefully selected the finest tested and approved products for all of our treatments that are based on our professional knowledge and advice.

At Evangeline’s the team cater for all to provide a superb experience with every visit. Staff will

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30 August/September 2017

always look to give each individual a great one to one service so expect to get the best advice and guidance to achieve exactly the look you want.

Evangeline’s has been carefully designed to ooze in elegance, with each area carefully designed to create a comfortable, relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

If however it’s just a tea or a great tasting Italian bean coffee and a homemade cake you require then come in and absorb the ambiance in the Coffee and Cake lounge.

For full details on how to enter this fantastic competition and be in with a chance of winning a cut and blow dry at the luxurious Evangeline’s salon simply visit the competitions section of our website www.timesechoandlife.co.uk.

AUNT’S CANCER BATTLE INSPIRES DARING CHARITY FEAT

CHARITY SKYDIVE

daring woman from Catchems Corner near Blythe Bridge has leapt from an aeroplane in thanks for the life-saving treatment received by her aunt.

Elaine Thomas, who works as a medical secretary at the Royal Stoke Hospital, volunteered herself for the challenge in support of Cancer Research UK as a way of giving something back following her aunt’s illness.

She told the Stone and Eccleshall Life Magazine: “My aunt, Emma Moss from Fulford, was diagnosed with endometrial cancer last year and had a massive operation followed by radiotherapy but thankfully she is currently doing very well.

“I wanted to give something back as it were and also raise money for a fantastic cause.”

The 45-year-old took to the skies on Friday 26th May and

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has so far raised a staggering £1512 with donations flooding in both on and off-line.

“I was hoping to raise about £600 so this is a lot more than I expected really.

“I decided to do a skydive because it was a little bit extreme and I thought people might be more willing to make a donation for something like this.

“The worst part was hanging over the edge of the plane just before we jumped out but I was very nervous the day before too.

“Once the parachute was open and we were floating down to the ground it was amazing. It was a beautiful day and you could see for miles.

When I got to the bottom I wanted to do it all again!”

If you would like to contribute to Elaine’s fundraising total you can do so safely, online at: www. everyclick.com/elainethomas.

August/September 2017 31

DRESSAGE PRIZE FOR BRAVE HORSE RIDER A DRESSAGE CHAMPION

Stone vet who suffered a nasty injury when riding her horse has got back in the saddle and won two dressage events.

Jess Hulme, a partner with Shires Vets, was riding her horse Danny on a country road when she was hit by a van. Although the horse was unscathed, Jess ended up underneath it and fractured her elbow in seven places, requiring five bouts of surgery.

“I lost my nerve for a while and didn’t want to ride Danny again so my husband, Will, swapped him for his horse Gringo.

“I started riding slowly and steadily to get my confidence back and now here we are, winning both elementary events at Beaver Hall Equestrian Centre near Leek,” said Jess, who has been with Shires Vets for 14 years, mainly based at the Stone surgery but also working at the Eaton Park, Eccleshall and Gnosall surgeries.

Jess and Gringo are now eligible to go forward and compete in the regional championships in Cheshire later in the year.

Jess, who has been riding since childhood, and Will, who is an eventer, have finished building an arena and stables at home for their horses.

“We have three horses, two rowdy terriers, a young Dobermann, a tortoise, and sheep and chickens to keep us busy,” she said.

In addition to looking after her own animals, Jess specialises in animal dentistry and exotic pets, providing veterinary services to two local zoos.

Pictured: Vet Jess Hulme with Gringo 32 August/September 2017

OLYMPIAN HONOURED

UNIVERSITY CELEBRATES JOE’S SPORTING SUCCESS HONORARY DEGREE FOR STONE OLYMPIAN

taffordshire Olympian Joseph Clarke MBE was amongst the eminent figures to be honoured for their outstanding contributions to society by Keele University this summer.

Seven distinguished individuals from the fields of sport, medicine, education, business and philanthropy were awarded honorary degrees at Keele during the University’s graduation ceremonies which took place in July.

24-year-old Joseph Clarke of Stone won gold at the Rio 2016 Olympics in the men’s slalom K-1 final with a time of 88.53 seconds, the first time that a British competitor has won gold in this event.

Clarke has also won medals in team events at the World and European Championships and was

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appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to canoeing.

Reacting to becoming the recipient of an honorary degree from one of his local university establishments, Joe told Stone and Eccleshall Life Magazine: “I’m thrilled to be selected for an honorary degree at Keele. I grew up in Staffordshire and I’m proud to race for my county and country, so to be recognised for my sporting achievements is fantastic. I’d love to inspire more people to get into the sport.”

Joe Clarke MBE has received a Master of the University honorary degree in recognition of his inspirational self-determination to achieve his personal ambitions as an Olympian, bringing great distinction to his sport and the local area and as a role model for others.

Pictured: Joe Clarke MBE competing in Rio at the 2016 Olympic Games.

August/September 2017 33

WIN FOR WEDGWOOD

An English garden but not as one might expect WEDGWOOD’S GOLD MEDAL WINNING GARDEN

edgwood’s Show Garden ‘A Classic reimagined’ designed and created by the multi-award-winning designer Sam Ovens, won a Gold Medal at the inaugural RHS Chatsworth Flower Show in June 2017.

The Show Garden is an important part of Wedgwood’s partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) which kicked off at Chelsea Flower Show in May 2017.

Sam Ovens, together with local volunteers and students from Reaseheath College, have now relocated the garden to the World of Wedgwood in Barlaston.

This initiative is a showcase of Wedgwood’s dedication to nature and garden to improve our surrounding and quality of living.

The volunteers have been working alongside Sam Ovens in the planting of the garden, covering

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34 August/September 2017

a larger area than showcased at RHS Chatsworth Flower Show, to create a space of reflection and recreation for the local community.

Commenting on the garden moving to The World of Wedgwood, Sam Ovens told Stone and Eccleshall Life Magazine: “I hope the local community will be surprised as it will be something they wouldn't necessarily expect to see."

The headline partnership showcased at RHS Chatsworth celebrated the exciting reunion of two iconic British brands that share a creative history and vision. John Wedgwood, founded the RHS in 1804 and was the eldest son of the famous English potter and entrepreneur Josiah Wedgwood, who founded Wedgwood in 1759.

Aspects of the Wedgwood DNA have been intertwined within Sam Oven’s horticultural design. The central feature of the garden is a contemporary take on living space, inspired by Wedgwood’s attitudes to interior living of blurring the ‘outside with the inside’. The water fountains symbolise not only the importance of water for wellbeing but is a nod to the innovation of the canals as a transport system leading to the success of Wedgwood in the founding years. The geometric design of the garden paired with traditional masonry illustrates a timeless chic design style that can be achieved by juxtaposing the old with the new in an unexpected way which has been important to Wedgwood over the years.

TRUST PRESERVES FLOWER-RICH HAY MEADOW

STAFFORDSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST

CHARITY MAKES CALL OUT TO NEW VOLUNTEERS

esidents across the Staffordshire Moorlands are being invited to join a relaunched work party to help look after a one of the county's best flower-rich hay meadows.

The work party, which will take place on the second Saturday of each month, with the next one taking part on Saturday 10th June, and will see volunteers look after the diverse site of Rod Wood nature reserve in Cheddleton.

Despite the name, woodland comprises only a small part of Rod Wood. The site is an interesting mosaic of scrub, grassland and woodland. This diversity of habitats is one of the reasons why Rod Wood is so important for wildlife.

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The work party will carry out a range of practical conservation activities aimed at protecting and enhancing the site.

David Rowe, who will lead the work parties, said: “Rod Wood is an extremely important site in Staffordshire and with the site being both woodland and grassland, needs a lot of attention.

“We hope people in the local area feel passionate about the site and want to come and lend a hand for a few hours once a month.

“Volunteering also gives you the opportunity to meet new people, develop new skills and gain valuable experience.”

All training and tools will be provided for each work party, which will take place between 10am and 1pm.

Anyone interested should email David Rowe - david-rowe@sky.com or call 07833645773.

August/September 2017 35

GARDENING

PRETTY IN PINK A cal M

By Martin Blow

y garden is so often full of the blazing hot colours of my helenium collection that at times it’s lovely to sit and relax surrounded by softer, calmer coloured flowers and what is more calming than pink.

There are so many shades of pink flower to choose, from the palest blush through to luxurious lipstick pink. Pink is an easy colour to combine – just avoid orange unless you like jarring clashes. Here are some of my summertime favourite pink flowers.

For early summer the pink drumsticks of the bistort (Persicaria bistorta Superba) are easy to grow in most soil types and look great paired with violet cranesbills. Later in the summer another Persicaria, Rosea, puts on a stunning show of tall stems covered with pale pink flowers over many months. Veronica Pink Damask creates a similar effect but on a far smaller scale.

36 August/September 2017

Another plant with upright stems and pink flowers is Lobelia Compton Pink. These perennial lobelias are nothing like the half-hardy bedding plants and they come back year after year to grace a sunny spot in the garden.

There are many lovely pink hardy geraniums to choose from. The low growing, sun loving “Elke” and “Striatum” are particularly tough and make a lovely edging against a patio or path. “Sherwood” is taller and has intriguing, rolled up petals.

Scent in the garden is very important and the border pink “Devon Wizard” has a spellbinding fragrance and bold, bright flowers that are also great for cutting. If you keep him deadheaded he will weave his magic right to the end of autumn For a moist or even wet soil, perhaps by a pond or stream then candelabra primulas are a good choice. One of the best pink flowered one is Beesiana because it isn’t too tall and floppy and it will grow in drier (but not too dry!) soils as well.

One of the most impressive pink flowers in my garden are the large, thistle-like, fuchsia-pink

GARDENING

alming colour to sit and relax beside heads of the Stemmacantha that erupt from pingpong ball sized silver buds in June and July. Once the flowers have finished the seed heads give prolonged interest and feed finches in winter.

Another striking looking flower is that of the Japanese Burnet (Sanguisorba Lilac Squirrel), affectionately known as the Barbara Cartland flower in our garden as the long, feathery, candy pink flowers look just like the one of the feather boas that might have graced the great lady’s outfits.

Echinacea (Coneflower) have become very popular over the last few years, but some of the new, exotically coloured varieties aren’t very hardy. I stick to the old, pink-flowered favourites like Ruby Star with its large pink daisy flowers and prickly, honey-scented cones. A must for bees and butterflies!

With so many lovely flowers and shades to choose from there’s no reason why your garden shouldn’t be pretty in pink the whole summer long!

Janet & I run Special Perennials, website www.specialperennials.com. We will be at the Plant Hunters’ Fair at Carsington Water, Ashbourne DE6 1ST on Saturday 12th August free entry to fair P&D parking; at the wonderful Dorothy Clive Garden Tf9 4EU, Nr Market Drayton on Sunday 27th and Monday 28th August, a great day out with entry to the stunning 12 acre gardens at a special low entry price of £3.50 and this includes the Plant Hunters' Fair as well! ; Weston Park on Sunday 10th September special price entry of only £2.50 for the fair and gardens; Henbury Hall Garden, Macclesfield (SK11 9PJ) on Sunday 17th September entry to this lovely rarely open 12-acre garden and plant fair only £2.50; The stunning Abbeywood Gardens, Delamere CW 8 2HS on Sunday 24th September only £3.00 for the gardens and fair Full details from www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk. We are happy to bring orders to plant fairs for you to collect.

August/September 2017 37

Are you at risk of f HOME IMPROVEMENTS

using materials such as leading flood campaigner is calling for marine ply or steel, can vigilance to the potential impact of also speed up recovery flooding in the summer months. works.

In the height of the season, flooding is often “The fitting of a far from people’s minds but Mary Dhonau OBE, membrane to walls and who chairs the Property Care Association’s Flood floors so any water can Protection Group, says it’s a subject which should run behind it to be be on the radar at this time of year.

Some of the most catastrophic incidents have collected in a sump/pump occurred in the summer season – including the unit rather than entering Hull floods, which devastated the city in June the property, is another 2007. effective measure.

According to Mary, a range of measures can “Keeping water out as much as possible be introduced to reduce the impact of flooding on through flood resistance measures can be properties and achieve a successful outcome – achieved in a number of ways too. and she is urging the public and authorities to be “This can include fitting a flood protection aware of them before the next flood strikes. guard to doors or replacing doors completely Mary said: “It’s important with a flood resistant people are aware of the options alternative. and as a country we should be “Replacing standard considering this on a national airbricks with ‘self-closing’ scale, to prevent continued alternatives, fitting a ‘nonIt’s important people heartache when floods strike. return valve’ to prevent “Flood protection can be are aware of the options sewage going back into the improved in a number of ways, building and giving and as a country we either by reducing the impact of consideration to the fitting future floods through resilience of a pump to evacuate should be considering measures, or by keeping water water coming from this on a national scale, out as far as possible by beneath the building are introducing resistance features. other examples of flood to prevent continued “Flood resilience relates to resistance measures.” heartache when measures which reduce the Mary Dhonau was time between the point the awarded an OBE for her floods strike building is flooded and the tireless campaigning over point where the occupant can the last two decades to get back to the enjoyment of protect people from the their property. devastation of flooding.

“There are a range of Mary added: “Flood measures which can be adopted into modern protection offers a common sense approach, but buildings or during the recovery or for action to occur we need clear leadership from refurbishment of older buildings to provide Government to drive forward the issue. degrees of resilience to the effects of flood water.

“Action can include allocating the use of any “Examples include replacing standard gypsum flood damage grants issued by Government to plaster with one of the alternative types that do build in future flood protection rather than just a not absorb water (such as a cement render) and repair and replace process. Insurance repairs can using ceramic or stone tiles with waterproof also take the same approach. adhesive and grout.

“And while flood resilience and resistance “Moving all services, such as boilers and measures can all make a positive impact, it is electric sockets high up on the wall, and using important to recognise that there’s no off-thekitchens which can be cleaned, dried and reused shelf solution for flood protection.

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“

38 August/September 2017

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flooding?

“The introduction of effective measures involves looking at a property as a whole, understanding its needs and bringing together a solution that will work.

“It requires a high level of technical ability, so property owners should seek out a professional who can adapt existing technologies and practices to deliver robust and reliable protection for homes and businesses at high risk.

“The best way to ensure properties are as protected as they can be is to call in the experts.

“Here, members of the PCA’s Flood Protection Group can help. They understand the subject of flooding and can provide expert advice and guidance on how homeowners and businesses can reduce the risk of problems.”

More information on flood protection and flood resilience can also be found via the PCA website at www.propertycare.org/homeowners/flood-protection/

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

A local family-run business

Mini, Midi & Large Skips Mini Digger Hire

24-7 SERVICE

Tel: 01889 566262 Mob: 07971 566383

www.boultonsskiphire.co.uk

August/September 2017 39

STAFFORDSHIRE YFC’S SHINING STAR A ECCLESHALL YFC

young agricultural star has been recognised with an award from Farmers’ Weekly.

Harriet Wilson of Eccleshall Young Farmers Club is a star at work and at home after winning The Farmers Weekly Rising Star Awards and being named a ‘shining star’ through her work as senior agricultural manager for the Co-op.

Within the agricultural team at the Co-op, she is responsible for dairy, fruit, vegetables and horticulture, plus has senior accountability for pork categories.

Harriet describes this as her “dream job” and has already been identified as a future leader though the Co-op’s internal Shining Stars

40 August/September 2017

programme.

From a family farm in Staffordshire, she graduated from Harper Adams University in 2014, having spent her placement year as an agricultural assurance coordinator at McDonald’s.

She has also gone out of her way to champion other young people in the sector.

Harriet developed the retailer’s Young Farming Pioneers programme, which aims to develop the next generation of farming talent.

It is clear from Harriet’s excellent communication skills and ability to multi-task, that her membership to Staffordshire Young Farmers has definitely attributed to

much of her success.

She is a past club chairman of Eccleshall YFC, past competitions chairman of Staffordshire YFC and most recently, is the agric steering committee chairman at the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs.

Along her YFC membership journey, Harriet has collected many awards and certificates as well as organising numerous club events including the forthcoming charity speed shear and beer festival for Eccleshall YFC on Saturday 2nd September.

The judges for the Rising Stars Award decribed Harriet as a ‘very proactive individual who has achieved a lot in terms of personal development, but also putting back into the industry by nurturing other young people.’

Julia Taylor, Staffordshire YFC County Organiser said: “Harriet is such a worthy recipient of this award.

“She has been a brilliant member in Staffordshire YFC since she joined in 2006 at the age of 14, taking part in as many competitions and activities in YFC as well as mentoring younger members and encouraging them to do the same.

“Staffordshire YFC are very proud to say she is one of ours.”

For information on becoming a member of Staffordshire YFC, for more details of social events or to contact one of the 10 clubs across Staffordshire call 01785 248645 or email countyoffice@staffsyoungfarme rs.org.uk.

ABBOTS BROMLEY SCHOOL

Abbots Bromley School ‘The Creative School in the Creative County’ bbots Bromley School and International College is quite remarkable. Set in the beautiful Staffordshire countryside, we offer an extremely high standard of education in an engaging and friendly environment.

It is an exceptionally exciting time for the school: with A level results placing us in the top 4% of schools nationwide for value added performance; a rapidly expanding Sixth Form; recent recognition as one of the best schools in the country for the creative arts and boys starting in Year 7 from September 2017, with the school fully co-educational by 2020.

Dedicated, dynamic and specialist members of staff ensure academic rigour and a love of learning. Students are expected to work hard and this is balanced by numerous enrichment opportunities including sport, music, art, recreational dance, musical theatre and riding.

‘The Alkins School of Dance’ in partnership with Abbots Bromley School, has an international reputation for excellence. It offers an exceptional opportunity to combine vocational dance training and qualifications with traditional academic studies.

The school’s facilities are outstanding and in

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addition to the dance school include a heated swimming pool, equestrian centre, sports hall, fitness suite, tennis courts, astro-turf and sports field.

Our stunning chapel is at the heart of our community and our supportive Christian environment enables students to flourish as thoughtful, caring and assured young adults.

Our extremely popular boarding community allows all students to feel part of a bigger family, where they can choose to reside on a flexi, weekly or full time basis.

We strive to nurture students as uniquely talented individuals, finding fulfilment through their learning and the development of their intellectual, creative, physical and emotional capabilities and in this regard we welcome applications for anyone wishing to subscribe to this ethos.

I am proud and privileged to be the Principal of Abbots Bromley School. If you are considering the school for your child, I extend an open invitation to visit our thriving community.

Mrs M. Shackleton Principal August/September 2017 41

PIREHILL FIRST SCHOOL

A LESSON IN SAFE SUMMER PLAY

upils from Pirehill First School in Stone have learned a valuable lesson about playing safely just in time for the eagerly awaited six week summer break.

Ensuring that children stay safe out of term time is often a cause for concern once schools break up for the holidays but thanks to a special assembly pupils from Pirehill First School have headed off into the summer armed with all sorts of helpful health and safety advice.

The assembly was led by Andy Shaw, production manager for local housebuilders Taylor Wimpey Midlands which is currently building a new development of homes at the Langton Green site in the town.

Youngsters were reminded of the importance of health and safety and how construction sites in particular pose many different dangers.

Speaking about the special assembly given to pupils before the end of the summer term, Karen Williamson-Smith, Headteacher of Pirehill First School, told the Stone and Eccleshall Life

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42 August/September 2017

Magazine: “The assembly certainly highlighted the dangers of playing on a building site and judging from the shocked expressions on the children’s faces the messages were certainly clearly understood by all. The assembly sparked some lively discussions and questions with the children taking home some important safety information which they will be able to share with older brothers and sisters.”

Taylor Wimpey’s Andy Shaw added: “Children are naturally curious about the world around them so building sites can seem like an exciting place from their perspective.

“That’s why it is vital for us to explain that in reality they are places of work which are full of very serious dangers that should really only be visited by trained professionals in the appropriate safety gear.

We hope the children enjoyed our assembly and we hope it will help them to stay safe in the future.”

Pictured: The children of Pirehill First School with Taylor Wimpey Production Manager Andy Shaw.

ANDREW POISED TO TAKE THE REINS

ABBOTSHOLME SCHOOL

NEW HEAD FOR ABBOTSHOLME THIS SEPTEMBER

he Governors of Abbotsholme School are pleased to announce that, following a rigorous interview process, Andrew Murphy will take over as the new Head from September 2017. He will take following the retirement of the previous Head, Steve Fairclough, who stepped down at the end of the summer term.

Andrew is a Biology teacher, and moves to the Rocester based independent school from Stamford High School where he had held position of Deputy Head with an overarching responsibility for Boarding and Teaching and Learning. He has a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences (Anatomy) from the University of Edinburgh, a PGCE from The Queen’s College, Oxford University, and an MSc in Teaching and Learning, also from The Queen’s College, Oxford University.

His dissertation for his Master’s degree was on the features and benefits of the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), and in particular Firefly (the iPad computer system we use at Abbotsholme). He is also an ISI Compliance Inspector.

During his ten years of boarding experience at Stamford, Stowe and Felsted schools, Andrew has had a significant impact in increasing numbers and improving the quality of boarding. While he was at Felsted, he also helped the school secure membership of Round Square.

Andrew enjoys all sport, although cricket is undoubtedly his first love, and he coaches cricket, football, rugby and hockey both at school and in the community. Having been raised in Scotland, Andrew has run the Caledonian Society at his previous schools and can also teach Ceilidh dancing.

His early background was in marketing, and Andrew worked in industry for seven years before starting his teaching career. He is also currently a Governor at a secondary SEN (Special Educational Needs) school where he sits on the Finance and Capital Expenditure committee.

Andrew is married to Gabi, who is also a

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Science teacher, and they have two children, Fletcher (6) and Aurora (4), who are both very excited about becoming pupils at Abbotsholme.

They also have a Golden Retriever called Holly who will love exploring the school’s 140 acre estate.

Andrew said: “I am tremendously thrilled and humbled to be joining Abbotsholme in September 2017. This is an absolute little gem of a school that is all about the individual. This is the perfectly sized school to tailor teaching and learning, and where pupils are names and characters, not simply numbers. My family and I plan to throw ourselves into school life and the greater community; as we have in my previous three schools. I very much look forward to meeting many of the feeders as soon as possible, and firmly believe that Abbotsholme has much to offer pupils, parents and staff.”

August/September 2017 43

WALTON PRIORY MIDDLE SCHOOL

COSMIC CH IMPRESS ENTER

ne hundred and eighty schools from all over the UK sent qualifying teams to compete the National Enterprise Challenge Final which took place in Telford during July.

Travelling to the contest from The Walton Priory in Beacon Rise, Stone was an intrepid team of Year 7 pupils, accompanied by Teaching Assistant Mr Gordon Taylor, to present their case for a new interactive, galactic ride at Alton Towers to a tough panel of judges.

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44 August/September 2017

Full of confidence and well-rehearsed, the local youngsters were delighted to be one of only four KS3 teams selected by the panel for a coveted place in the final.

Reflecting on the competition, Mr Taylor told Stone and Eccleshall Life Magazine: “The main arena at the Telford International Centre is huge and the atmosphere with the lights, big video screens and an audience of 1500 was electric.

“Our team performed brilliantly again, but we were just pipped to the winner’s spot. Huge

WALTON PRIORY MIDDLE SCHOOL

HALLENGERS RPRISE JUDGES congratulations are due to Lucy Cawdell, Tom Fearnley, Charlotte Avann, Sophie Wheeler, Jackson Tyler and Evan Hughes who worked for weeks on their pitch and who performed with such confidence on the big day.”

The group of 11 and 12 year olds took to the stage in the grand final in front of a daunting audience of more than 1,000 people - quite a feat for anyone to overcome!

Their idea was an Apollo 17 pop-up attraction involving visitors wearing a virtual reality headset and flying from planet to planet

teaching ride users all about space.

Chair of Governors at the school Amanda Brooke told us how incredibly proud she was of the pupils’ achievement: “I am so proud to see a group of people present so confidently and fluently to an audience of 1250 people, and keep them totally engaged during their pitch.

“Their passion and commitment was inspiring, thank you so much to them and to the teaching staff who have supported them through this process and given them the opportunity to take part.”

August/September 2017 45

CHARITY ON THE SEARCH FOR DOG-LOVERS HEARING DOGS FOR DEAF PEOPLE

f you have a passion for man’s favourite fourlegged friend and are looking for a rewarding way to volunteer your time in the interests of helping those less fortunate, then a charity which helps pair assistance dogs with deaf people would be delighted to hear from you.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People - the sole organisation which trains clever dogs to alert deaf people to important sounds - is actively recruiting dog lovers who would like to take care and help train their adorable puppies and dogs in Cheshire East.

Speaking about the rewards of becoming involved with the charity Volunteer Dog Trainer, Alyson Embleton, told Stone and Eccleshall Life Magazine: “When I saw an advert looking for volunteers to help train a puppy for Hearing Dogs I just knew this was something I really wanted to get involved with.

“My Puppy Training Instructor is so supportive, I’m taught the skills to then practise on a daily basis at home with Gracie, a gorgeous yellow Labrador puppy. It’s just so rewarding to see how

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Gracie

Alyson and Grace Gracie is learning and growing up week by week.”

Ruth Turner, Hearing Dogs’ Puppy Training Instructor for Cheshire East and Staffordshire added: “If you live locally and are looking for a new challenge, then why not give something back and meet some loveable life-changing puppies along the way?

“As long as you have a car, a secure, private garden, and enough time to train a puppy or dog on a daily basis, then we would absolutely love to hear from you.”

To find out more about volunteer dog training opportunities, please contact the volunteering team: volunteer@hearingdogs.org.uk, 01844 348122 or visit www.hearingdogs.org.uk/volunteer.

46 August/September 2017

LIFE MAGAZINES ALL BACK ISSUES available at issuu.com/timesechoandlife W

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Festival fever takes hold

IN

JUNE/JULY 2017

y ke on om M gd am Kin th r’s en e Tr lliv to Gu ts d ke an Tic rest Fo

Stone

& Eccleshall

ISSUE 9

Life

JULY/AUGUST 2017

Looking forward to an action packed summer of events

Life

SCHOOL’S COMMUNITY SPIRIT

Beer and gin fund raiser

Life

300 years of history

Unitarian Meeting House Anniversary

BE INSPIRED FOR GOOD Inspirational readers’ selfless acts for others

WIN

kets of tic pairs tiques Ten An to the eryone for Ev er Fair Summ

Vibrant programme takes shape as we look ahead to this year’s

Leek and District Show

THREE CHANCES TO

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• Trentham Monkey Forest • West Midland Safari Park • Strictly Eric at The New Vic

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LEGAL MATTERS

GRINDEYS SOLICITORS WEBSITE DEDICATED TO FAMILY LAW

Divorce rates are in decline At a time when both marriage and divorce are in decline, Grindeys’ website is dedicated to family law and divorce. The need for legal advice and support in this area remains crucial given the changing nature of society and family relations.

According to the Office of National statistics the number of divorces year on year is in decline, and has been since 2004. Certainly this trend is reflected in the figures for the last three full years. In 2013 the number of Decree Absolutes (the document which finalises a divorce) fell from 115,000 in 2013 to 102,000 in 2015.

This could be perceived as a positive trend, however the statistics need to be compared to two others: a decline in the number of marriages per year, a trend which started in 1973; and the increase in the number of people living together – cohabitees.

In 2013, the latest statistics available, there were 242,000 marriages in the UK compared to 426,000 in 1972. In 2012, there were 5.9 million people cohabiting in the UK, double the 1996 figure.

makes no provision for the rights of cohabitees with regards to property and possessions. As a general rule if you own it at the beginning of the relationship then you will own it at the end! That said, there are an increasing number of legal cases that have been successful in questioning the law’s stance on the legal rights of cohabitees. It’s only a matter of time before the law adapts to meet the needs of a changing society.

It should also be noted that the lack of marriage does not equate to a lack of children. 38% of these 5.9 million cohabitees have children together. The law does make provision for the rights of children regardless of the parents’ marital status and so demand for legal advice with regards to child arrangement orders, is increasingly high.

There is also a growing trend for grandparents to seek legal advice with regard to contact with grandchildren. Fortunately the English legal system does recognise the valuable contribution a grandparent can make to a child’s life, especially if they have provided childcare.

Increased demand from cohabitees, unmarried parents and grandparents Despite these figures the need for family law advice is not in decline. Approximately 42% of marriages will end in divorce – a sad statistic indeed.

Then there are the cohabitees. English law currently

Relationship agreements provide protection Today, compared to twenty years ago, people tend to be older when they ‘commit’ to a relationship and have often acquired a reasonable amount of wealth and naturally they want to protect it. This is reflected in the increased demand for documents such as the cohabitation agreement and the prenuptial agreement.

The changing scope of society and the families within it is why Grindeys have launched a website dedicated to these matters. The aim of the website is to provide families with access to family law information and the website includes content, news and features which anyone in a family crisis should find useful.

Daniel Rushton, Head of Family Law at Grindeys comments, “Access to information is crucial for families going through crisis. The website is full of general information but every family law case is different and the outcome is very much based on a person’s specific circumstances. This is why we have introduced a discounted fixed fee consultation for clients, which can be conducted either face to face at our offices or over the telephone. The consultation provides people with advice relevant to their situation. The consultation is not necessarily the start of legal proceedings. It is designed to give people a clear outline of their options.”

They also offer a fixed fee consultation created to meet the needs of business owners or people with complicated financial or family arrangements.

Daniel continues, “The website is an ongoing project with a view to adding content and features based on client feedback and so we welcome, in fact actively encourage, any views and opinions about the website from clients and the public.”

The website can be found at www.family-law-anddivorce.co.uk

www.family-law-and-divorce.co.uk

48 August/September 2017

The benefits of asset diversity…

INVESTMENT MATTERS

NOT PUTTING ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET

ut simply, different assets – equities, property, bonds, cash and so on – have not only different costs and accessibility issues, but can also move counter-cyclically to each other.

For example, when equity values fall, bond values can rise; but not always. What this means is; if you spread your investments over several different asset classes, you might not do as well as if you had selected only the one that eventually turns out to have performed the best, but you should not do as badly as if you had selected only the one that has performed the worst.

What should happen is; you will get some of the performance of each class, in other words, a more balanced performance.

P

What do we mean by balanced?

A balanced investment strategy is a portfolio allocation aimed at balancing risk and return.

Balanced portfolios should be diversified and generally consist of equities, fixed interest securities and other asset classes, such as property.

There are wide variations within each asset class; therefore, it is important to be diversified within the various asset classes. Take, for example, equities, which can be divided by size. In the UK, the largest companies, by market capitalisation, are contained in the FTSE100, whilst the FTSE250 (also called the mid-cap market) contains the next largest 150 companies. The smallest companies are contained in the FTSE Small Cap and Alternative Investment Market (AIM).

Then there are different business sectors such as banks, technology, energy or manufacturing; each has the propensity to move in different directions from the other. Similarly, there are different geographical regions. Although UK

equities, particularly the large cap companies, are global in nature, investing in different parts of the world can offer potential benefits that outweigh variation in currency values.

How things can get out of balance While it is important to consider a realistically diverse investment strategy that is consistent with the level and type of risk that you are prepared to accept, you must also recognise that the very fact that assets will perform differently from each other means that, through time, the initial asset distribution is likely to become out of kilter. Those assets that have performed well will come to represent a higher proportion of your overall investments than was originally planned and might not be appropriate for a changing risk profile.

It is essential to review your asset allocation strategy regularly with your independent financial planner, so that you know where you stand and whether any changes need to be made.

It is important to take professional advice before making any decision relating to your personal finances. The value of investments is not guaranteed and will fluctuate; you may get back less than you put in.

Stuart D Bryant is a fee-based Certified Financial Planner, specialising in personal lifestyle planning and investment planning.

SDB Strategic Planners Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Tel: (01782) 712233

NOTHING CONTAINED IN THE ARTICLE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS GIVING INDIVIDUAL FINANCIAL ADVICE. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ARTICLE IS BASED ON OUR CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF LEGISLATION, WHICH CAN BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. THE VALUE OF INVESTMENTS CAN GO DOWN AS WELL AS UP; YOU MAY GET BACK LESS THAN YOU INVEST.

August/September 2017 49

QUIZ CORNER

Let’s get quizzical COMPILED BY PAUL STEELE

General Knowledge Quiz 1. Stansted airport is in which English county?

2. How many pieces of music do 'Castaways' choose on Radio 4's 'Desert Island Discs'?

3. 'Gasping', ' Silly Cow' and ' Popcorn' are all plays by which comedian?

4. In which decade was Theresa May born?

7. The 2011 film 'Moneyball' is based on which sport?

8. Which mountain in the Swiss Alps is found on packs of Toblerone chocolate bars?

9. Edie McCreadie, Miss Hoolie and Archie who lives in a castle are characters in which children's TV series?

10. Which 2017 film was based on the short story 'A Long Way Home'?

A 'School' quiz for the start of the new school year in September 1. Which fictional girls school was created by Ronald Searle?

2. 'No more pencils, no more books. No more teachers dirty looks' is from which song?

3. Which 1980 film was set at the New York City School for the Performing Arts?

4. In which television series did Neil Morrissey play teacher Eddie Lawson?

5. Which school did Tucker and Zammo attend?

6. At which school is the film 'Grease' set?

7. Which school of Witchcraft and Wizardry does Harry Potter attend?

8. Who is the principal of Springfield Elementary School?

9. Who was the best known pupil at the fictional Blackfriars School?

10. Which school did Jemima and Hamble attend?

General Knowledge Answers: 1. Essex; 2. Eight; 3. Ben Elton; 4. 1950s (1956); 5. Germany; 6. Chess (Federation Internationale de Echecs); 7. Baseball; 8. Matterhorn; 9. Balamory; 10. Arrival. School Quiz Answers: 1. St Trinian's (First created in 1946); 2. School's Out (A number one for Alice Cooper in 1972); 3. Fame; 4. Waterloo Road; 5. Grange Hill; 6.

Rydel High; 7. Hogwarts; 8. W Seymour Skinner (In the Simpsons); 9. Billy Bunter; 10. Playschool (This was broadcast from 1964 until 1988).

50 August/September 2017

Quizzes compiled by Paul Steele (Question writer and Quizmaster) from Cheddleton email: pnsteele@aol.com

5. At 11am on September 3rd 1939 Great Britain declared was on which country?

6. FIDE is the international governing body of which sport?

30th September