Lancashire Now 214

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Issue. 214 - July 2022 0115 6972677 | www.wilcopmedia.co.uk | sales@wilcopmedia.co.uk

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WEST LANCASHIRE OFFICERS WIN AWARD

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GUILTY OF MURDERING PARENTS

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Lancashire to create Family Hubs to provide vital support for local families Lancashire County Council has allocated £1.4m in funding to implement a Family Hub

network alongside families, charitable, faith, voluntary and statutory service partners across the county.

Family Hubs are a national model that aim to provide high-quality, holistic and rounded support to children, young people and families on the basis they can easily access the help they need, regardless of where in the county they live. Family Hubs will bring services together to support all members of the family minimising the need to search for different types of support that might otherwise be hard to find.

Support available through Family Hub networks begins at pregnancy and progresses through early years, childhood to 19 for young people, or 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

It includes parenting help, early help and safeguard-

ing as well as mental health support, infant feeding advice and 'wrap-around' services such as support for domestic abuse or substance misuse.

These services are supported by the voluntary community and faith sector and the network will include support from groups specific to each district who have specialisms or are able to strengthen the professional offer already in place, build positive relationships with families and connect services to deliver improvements in their lives at a local level.

County Councillor Cosima Towneley, Lancashire County Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Families, said: "Family Hubs will make the process of accessing support much smoother for children and families in our county. Too often families, already going through a challenging time, must tell

their story more than once and speak to several practitioners before they receive the support they need. I am confident that Family Hubs will provide a safe, convenient, versatile and practical space where all who seek to use the service will find the various agencies that will help them on their journey."

The Lancashire Family Hubs programme is a mul-

ti-agency partnership work led by Lancashire County Council and is the latest example of the local authority's long history of working in partnership ways to improve outcomes for children and families.

With the programme currently in its preparation phase, it is estimated that a total of 12 Family Hubs networks will be in place

by March 2024, comprising over 60 local centres working with Lancashire's district and borough councils and hundreds of organisations and professionals to ensure help can be delivered fast and at the right time.

Man charged with murder of Stephen Macro in Padiham Police have charged a man with murder following the death of Stephen Macro (pictured) in Padiham last year.

Police officers were called to Coronation Avenue at 10.33am on November 25 to reports of a sudden death.

Emergency services

have attended and sadly found 57-year-old Stephen deceased inside a property.

A Home Office post mortem examination concluded that Stephen died as a result of multiple abdominal injuries and a scalp injury.

A 57-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder.

On Friday, following consultation from the Crown Prosecution Service, Wayne Dawson, of Burnley Road, Padiham was charged with murder.

He was remanded into custody to appear before Lancashire magistrates over the weekend.

DCI Allen Davies, of the Force Major Investigation Team, said: “Although we have now charged a man, our

investigation into Stephen’s death continue. I would ask anyone with information which could assist our investigation to come forward. We are still particularly keen to hear from anybody who saw or has any footage of him in the West View Terrace area of Padiham between 10pm and 11.30pm on November 24.

“Stephen’s family have been kept updated with the latest developments and my thoughts very much remain with them.”

Following Stephen’s death, his family said in a tribute: “He was very well known, always out walking Murphy, his

dog.

“Stephen was always talkative and friendly. He was very popular.”

Anyone with information which could assist our investigation should call police on 101, quoting log 410 of November 25, 2021.

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Special recognition for parents of Megan Lee for raising awareness of food allergens The parents of a teenager who died after having a serious allergic reaction have been honoured for their dedication and commitment to raising awareness of food allergens.

All food businesses in the UK have a responsibility to provide accurate allergen information to all customers that request it, and ultimately to provide food that is safe for people with allergies.

Not doing so can have fatal consequences, as was the case with 15-year-old Megan Lee, who suffered a fatal asthma attack in 2017 after unknowingly eating a takeaway meal containing peanuts.

Following the tragedy, Megan's parents, Gemma and Adam Lee, worked with Trading Standards officers at Lancashire County Council to produce Megan's Story, a short film featuring treasured photos and video of the Oswaldtwistle schoolgirl growing up, to make businesses aware of the risks associated with allergens and ensure other families don't have to go through the same ordeal.

The video has been used all around the UK and was recently incorporated into a multilingual resource developed by Trading Standards Wales.

For their commitment and dedication in raising awareness of food allergens, Gemma and Adam have received a Special Recognition Award at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute National Conference in Bristol.

Gemma said: "We can't change our story as much as we would love to. But what we can do is help others by stopping this story happening to someone else's family.

"We have continued to raise awareness of the dangers of allergens and hope we will make business owners and their staff think about their actions. No-one wants another tragedy to happen."

Adam added: "It was incredible to receive an award at the CTSI Conference 2022.

To receive an award in our daughter’s memory is truly heart-warming."

It is thought that as many as one in three of the UK population, or 21 million

people, live with an allergy of some form and this number is increasing at an alarming rate.

Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, director of public health for Lancashire County Council, said: "Food allergy is a serious and growing public health issue.

"There has been a dramatic increase in allergic diseases in recent years and raising awareness of this for both businesses and the public is very important."

County Councillor Michael Green, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: "I would like to thank Gemma and Adam Lee for their tremendous efforts to raise awareness of food allergens after the tragic loss of their daughter, Megan."

Councillor Green added: "The county council has developed a number of resources to increase awareness of food allergy as a serious issue and help educate young people and adults about the potentially life-threatening nature of the condition.

"We recently developed a free e-Learning package for

businesses to raise awareness of this growing issue, to help ensure that what happened to Megan Lee doesn't ever happen again to anyone in Lancashire."

For more information about allergies visit: www.lancashire.gov.uk/consumer-advice/ allergy-information/ and https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/business/trading-standards/ allergy/ The multilingual allergen resource produced by Trading Standards Wales, which is based on resources from Lancashire County Council's trading standards team, can be accessed here: https://www.tradingstandards. uk/practitioners/food-allergen-resource/

Four charged after cannabis factory uncovered Police have charged three people after we uncovered a factory producing edible cannabis sweets.

Officers carried out a drug warrant at an address on High Street in Rishton last month where we found a large amount of both cannabis and cannabis edible sweets.

Cannabis edibles are made to look like sweets and are attractive to youngsters but they can contain high levels of THC. The recovered drugs were valued at more than £100k.

Following a number of further enquiries we yester-

day (Wednesday, June 29th) arrested three people from the Hyndburn area and they have now been charged.

Daniel Smedley, 32, of Walmsley Street, Rishton, Kristen Hall, 28, of Spring Street, Rishton and Richie Gardiner, 28, of Hermitage Street, Rishton, are all charged with being concerned in the production of cannabis and are due to appear before Blackburn Magistrates’ Court today (Thursday, June 30th) A fourth person – Leonard Perkins, 31, of no fixed address, was earlier charged with being concerned in the

production of cannabis.

If you have information about suspected drug-dealing in your area, please continue to report it to us on 101 or online, here https://orlo.uk/ PDGFD You can be confident that we will act on the informa-

tion you provide, take drugs off the streets and prosecute those suspected of supplying them.

You can also contact independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers.org

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Lancaster firm sees four-fold growth and targets US expansion after Rosebud loan A Lancashire organisation which helps companies to improve their sustainability is targeting US expansion after experiencing a four-fold increase in turnover with the support of a business loan from Rosebud.

TBL Services, based at Lancaster University, has also increased its headcount from two to 11 since receiving the loan in early 2020.

The consultancy was established in 2017 and is led by Colin Curtis, formerly head of sustainability at a multinational firm. TBL advises organisations how to improve their sustainability, particularly through their support for the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Colin was introduced to Rosebud through Lancashire’s Access to Finance service and

TBL received £50,000 to help the company recruit new staff members to support Colin’s ambitions to expand.

He said: “Our aim is not about generating profits, it’s about increasing employment. We want to launch more services and we’re looking at additional expansion into the US. We are going to do that by working in partnership with customers and their suppliers.”

Rosebud is owned by Lancashire County Developments Ltd (LCDL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Lancashire County Council. It aims to support the growth of Lancashire businesses and the local economy, offering loans between £10,000 and £300,000 as well as high-quality business support.

Since receiving the loan,

TBL has increased its employees to 11 and is continuing to grow its client base.

The company has worked with well-known national companies including Skipton Building Society and Peel Land and Property.

Its turnover has grown from £77,000 in 2019 to £337,000 and the company expects to turn over £500,000 this year.

“We grew throughout the pandemic and we are continuing growing nicely, the loan from Rosebud has contributed to that,” added Colin. “We have worked with all sizes of business from small companies to multinational organisations. We are also B-Corp accredited.”

County Councillor Shaun Turner, cabinet member for environment and climate change, Lancashire County

Council, said: “More and more companies of all sizes are assessing their impact on the environment and also on society so TBL will continue to see demand for its services grow over the coming years.

“Lancashire County Council’s support for TBL will not only help it to grow, increasing local employment and wealth, but also help organisations across the world to improve their positive contribution to the planet.

That is something I’m very proud of.”

Jonathan Nelson, senior loan manager, Rosebud, said: “TBL is seeing strong growth while making a positive difference to the planet and Rosebud is pleased to contribute to its expansion.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to support Colin and TBL as the company increases the scope of its services globally in the coming years.”

Rosebud is delivered by GC Business Finance. Businesses in Lancashire’s 12 local authority areas are eligible for the funding: Burnley; Chorley; Fylde; Hyndburn; Lancaster; Pendle; Preston; Ribble Valley; Rossendale; South Ribble; West Lancashire; Wyre. *This news release was provided by Freshfield on behalf of Rosebud

Appeal following serious collision between HGV and pedestrian on Bay Gateway Police are investigating and appealing for information following a collision between a pedestrian and an HGV in Morecambe.

The incident occurred at around 2.20am today (Saturday, July 2nd) on the Bay Gateway, close to the junction with Morecambe Road, when a woman - aged in her 30s – was struck by an HGV tractor unit and trailer.

She was taken to hospital with serious injuries, which it is believed will be life-changing.

The road was closed until around 7am while special-

ist accident investigators attended.

We would now like to hear from anybody who saw the collision, saw either the pedestrian or the HGV in the moments before it happened, or who has dashcam or CCTV showing what occurred.

Sgt Dave Hurst, of the Lancashire Police TacOps team, said: “This collision has left a woman in hospital with serious injuries and an investigation has been launched to establish exactly what occurred.

“Perhaps you saw the collision or have dashcam

or CCTV showing what happened.

“The woman was walking along the Bay Gateway in company with a man when the incident took place so we are also asking anybody who drove down the road at the time of the collision to cast their minds back and see if they can remember seeing the pair.

Similarly anybody who saw the HGV in the moments before the collision should get in touch.”

Anybody with information should contact us on 101, quoting log 143 of July 2nd

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Man jailed for rape and attempted rape A Blackburn man has been jailed after admitting the rape and attempted rape of a woman.

Christopher Hide, 31, of St Mary’s Wharf, was sentenced at the Sessions House in Preston yesterday (Wednesday, June 29).

Hide was arrested on suspicion of rape in April 2020 after a woman came forward and spoke to police.

The woman reported Hide had attacked and raped her, as well as attempted to rape her, between April 2015 and April 2017.

Hide was interviewed by police and following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, he was charged.

In February, Hide appeared at court and pleaded guilty shortly before his trial to two counts of rape and

a further count of attempted rape.

He was given a sentence of 17 years and six months, consisting of 13 years and six months in prison, with a further four years on licence. Hide was also given a restraining order and will be on the sex offenders register for life.

Det Con Alex Prendergast, of Blackburn Police, said: “Christopher Hide is a dangerous sex offender who committed several sickening attacks on his victim.

“His sentence is reflective of the gravity of his offending and he will be off the streets for a very long time.

“I must praise the victim for her strength in supporting our prosecution. She has showed great courage and strength in coming forward and reporting the crimes to police.

“We are committed to

preventing and detecting offences of serious sexual assault. We want victims to feel confident that they will be treated with compassion and that we will do everything possible to trace those responsible and take action against them.

“I hope this case will give other victims of sexual offending the confidence to come forward, knowing that we will listen to them and act on the information they provide.”

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Police supporting new sign language service Police are joining forces with a revolutionary new service which will allow deaf British Sign Language users across Lancashire to independently place a video call to police, and other emergency services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

999 BSL, which was created by Sign Language Interactions, is the only provider of remote British Sign Language (BSL) video interpreting for 999 calls. It means that deaf BSL users can contact emergency authorities including police, ambulance, fire and coastguard services.

The service is completely free and is available to download as a mobile app or by using the website www.999bsl.co.uk. It will connect callers to online British Sign Language interpreters who will then be able to relay the conversation to whichever emergency service is required. Call handlers aim to respond to all calls within five seconds.

Lancashire Constabulary Chief Constable, Chris Rowley said: “Calling 999 for assistance

can literally be a matter of life and death.

Everyone should feel confident that Lancashire Police will be at the end of the phone, ready to respond to help them. This is a huge step in continuing to ensure that we can respond to calls for help and keep all members of our communities safe.”

Andrew Dewey, Head of Strategy and Business Development for Sign Language Interactions said: “We are incredibly excited to launch 999 BSL, the UK’s first ever Video Relay Service for calls to the emergency services in British Sign Language. Thanks to this innovative new service, no deaf person will be excluded when they need t make an emergency call, therefore saving lives.”

To use 999 BSL, you can download the mobile app in the app store or you can visit the website at www.999bsl.co.uk for more information.

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TV duo among UCLan’s new honorary award recipients

Peter Purves and Patrick Grant will receive Honorary Fellowships during the week-long graduation celebrations Two well-known television celebrities with links to the red rose county are among five people being recognised with honorary awards from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).

Former Doctor Who companion, Blue Peter presenter and Crufts’ commentator Peter Purves and The Great British Sewing Bee judge Patrick Grant will take to the stage in Preston to receive Honorary Fellowships.

They will be joined by graphic designer Becky Chilcott, international stra-

tegic development specialist Professor John Fyfe CBE and archaeologist Dr Gill Hey who will all accept prestigious Honorary Doctorates.

The University’s degree and award celebrations, which run from 11 to 15 July on the Preston Campus, will see thousands of students don their academic caps and gowns across 14 graduation ceremonies.

Graduates will take to the stage in the transformed Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre and will enjoy their postevent celebrations with family

Patrick Grant

and friends on the new multi-million-pound University Square.

To ensure family and friends around the world can watch the celebratory ceremonies, live streaming will be available on the University’s YouTube channel.

Peter, who was born in New Longton, will receive his award on the morning of Wednesday 13 July to acknowledge the significant contribution he has made in services to television, acting and presenting and in particular, support for the University’s recent remake of the lost 1960s Doctor Who episode ‘Mission to the Unknown’.

Patrick, who runs Community Clothing and Cookson & Clegg, both Lancashire based, is being recognised for the significant contribution he has made to the British clothing and textile industry, as well as supporting the University at events such as

Peter Purves

the Leaders in Residence Network Launch. He will receive his award on the morning of Friday 15 July.

Becky will be honoured for the significant contribution she has made in services to graphic design and the support given to UCLan Publishing while Dr Hey is being recognised for the significant contribution she has made in services to archaeology and

support in providing placements for the University’s archaeology students.

Professor Fyfe is being acknowledged for the significant long-term contribution he has made to the UCLan’s Applied Policy Science Unit and to the Samuel Lindow Foundation, particularly through the provision of expertise and extensive practical experience in the

fields of politics, policy and government. Professor Fyfe is also being honoured for his contribution to the development of 'partnerships' in community development, internationally, of which the association with UCLan and its presence at Westlakes Science Park in Cumbria is a special example.

Morecambe school chef up for national award A school cook from Lancashire has got through to the national final of the School Chef of the Year competition.

Rose Simpson, 42, who disliked school dinners herself, has been cooking up healthy and tasty meals at Morecambe Bay Community Primary School for 11 years. Rose started her working life as a ‘Saturday girl’ in a café. She had not considered working in a school kitchen until she met a supervisor who inspired her.

“My signature dish, and it’s certainly one the children enjoy, is a vegan hash wrap, said Rose. “Teriyaki also seems to go down well. To be honest, the children seem to like most of the meals we cook for them.

“If there is a secret to our success, it’s that we talk to the

children about food – especially when we’re introducing a new dish. We also run taster sessions so that the children can give unusual foods a try.

“My colleagues and I are quite lucky in this school because the children are quite educated where food is concerned; they realise that a healthy meal can also be really tasty.

“Even the school tuckshop only sells fruit, and the children are fully behind that.”

Rose will join 11 other school chefs from across the UK at the national finals, which will take place on July 6 and 7 at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole.

The competition is being organised by the Local Authority Catering Association.

During the finals, Rose and the other school chefs will

have one hour and 45 minutes to prepare and serve a grab & go savoury snack, along with a delicious and imaginative main meal and dessert.

Each contestant must use at least one Quorn product in both the new grab & go item and main course and one Bisto product from a list provided in either the snack or the main course.

At least half of the dessert must be fruit-based that should reflect school standards, using one Premier Foods product from a list provided.

The winner will receive a £1,000 cash prize, the 2022 LACA School Chef of the Year trophy and an invitation to a calendar of catering industry events.

The second and third place winners will receive £500 and

£300 respectively.

Rose added: “It’s very important that children eat well and healthily during the day.

If they’re hungry, they won’t be able to concentrate on their lessons.

“I’m very much looking forward to travelling to Birmingham to take part in the finals.

I know how hard my four colleagues and I have to work to produce meals the children will enjoy, so I have no doubt the standard of the competition will be very high.”

A Year 5 pupil explained why she enjoys the meals so much: “My favourite school meal is Cheese Swirl because it is cheesy and creamy. I love Apple Crumble dessert because it’s very sweet and sour.”

Rose has also inspired a pupil to want to learn to cook: “I love how tasty the pasta is and

I want to know the secret recipe so I can enjoy it even more.”

Sue Taylor, the Headteacher at Morecambe Bay Community Primary School understands how challenging it can be for Rose and her team to produce healthy and enjoyable meals for the children: “On a daily basis, delicious aromas waft from the kitchen. I am always impressed that the team create such healthy and tasty food”.

County Councillor Jayne Rear, Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for Education and Skills, added: “I’m both impressed and proud of Rose and her team

for making it through to the national finals. Providing many children with healthy and nutritious school meals that they enjoy isn’t easy.

“I have no doubt that Rose will give a good account of herself at the competition and my colleagues and I wish her all the very best of luck.”

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Cabinet to approve permanent raising of the age range at Brunshaw Primary School Councillors are expected to approve plans to permanently raise the age range at Brunshaw Primary School in Burnley due to low and reducing numbers of children applying to its nursery.

At its next meeting on Thursday July 7, Lancashire County Council's cabinet will be asked to approve the proposal to discontinue the nursery provision at Brunshaw Primary School by permanently raising its age range from 3-11 years to 4-11 years, with effect from 31 August 2022.

Currently there are only 10 pupils attending the nursery at Brunshaw Primary School and these children will start the reception year in the Autumn Term. Only four applications have been received for nursery places at the school for September 2022.

Given the reducing numbers and the number early years providers in the local

area, the local authority and the governing body do not believe there will be an adverse local impact by discontinuing the nursery provision.

Prior to seeking a decision to close the nursery, the school's governors verbally consulted with parents on how the school could increase the uptake in places.

They found that parents were seeking provision that was available both before and after school and during the school holidays, and that there was a lot of competition between early years providers in the area that offered this.

A formal consultation on the current proposals ran between 10 March and 23 May. No responses were received during this period and no issues or concerns were raised by the families who may be adversely affected.

At its next meeting, the county council's cabinet will

be asked to approve the age change. Councillors will also be asked to approve that an appropriate statutory decision letter be sent out, giving the reasons for the decision to the parties that have been consulted.

County Councillor Jayne

Rear, cabinet member for education and skills, said: "Local authorities have a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient childcare places for working parents that are accessible, affordable, and delivered flexibly in high quality settings.

"Thankfully, Burnley, has these in abundance. Unfortunately, this has meant that some providers, particularly those that cannot quite meet the needs of working parents, have struggled to attract children to fill the places.

"Permanently changing the

age range at Brunshaw Primary School from 3-11 years old to 4-11 years old will allow it to focus its energies on school-age children, and we are confident that it will not have an adverse local impact due to the excellent provision elsewhere in the area."

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West Lancashire Officers who tackled the theft of valuable York stone win problem solving award.

On Wednesday 29th June, Officers from across the county attended the Police Headquarters at Hutton to deliver presentations showcasing their hard work and commitment to tackling crime and keeping our communities safe. The judging panel consisted of Deputy Chief Constable Sacha Hatchett, Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden, Dr Nathan Birdsall, Research Fellow in policing and criminal investigation at UcLan and Sylvia Chenery, consultant to UK Police Forces.

The Overall winners were PCs Fiona Rowe and Megan Boon who entered in the Police Now and Student Officers category. After a

series of four large scale thefts of York stone flags, which happened within four weeks of each other, two just four days apart, and the local social media outcry which followed, it was clear that the impact on the community was considerable.

Through a multi-layered partnership approach, including cross border working and targeting of offenders, location mapping, property marking, crime prevention measures, proactive patrols and a social and national media campaign along with establishing a Church watch scheme, PCs Rowe and Boon’s work has contributed to the significant reduction in reported thefts.

Deputy Chief Constable Sa-

cha Hatchett said “I am really proud of our officers and police staff who continuously apply innovative approaches to problem solving to keep our communities safe. The quality of submissions has been of an exceptionally high standard this year and I and the rest of the judges were extremely impressed with all of the category winners.”

Congratulations go to all category winners. In the Neighbourhoods category, PCSOs Saira Rashid and Rachel Lonsdale from East Division won for their multi-agency approach to tackling anti-social behaviour, The Partners and Collaboration category was won by PS Guy Hamlett and PC Chris Banks from West

Division for their work to clamp down on travelling criminals and OCGs targeting farms to steal agricultural machinery and livestock. DS Diane Higham, DC Jonathon Piearce-Swift, PS John Gregory and PC Jessica Morris from South Division won the Investigations category for their work in keeping people safe during nights out through personal safety classes and awareness days.

Finally, in the Business Support and Volunteers category, the award was given to PS Tom Sanderson for his work with Operation Nemo which is helping to keep children safe on our county’s beaches during peak seasons.

The winners will attend the National Problem Solving

Conference at Burton-onTrent later this year.

Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden said: "The Problem Solving Awards are a fantastic opportunity for officers, staff and partner agencies to come together, share best practice and celebrate innovative ways of working and fighting crime.

"The event highlighted some fantastic projects, showcasing officers and staff going above and beyond to tackle crime and to make Lancashire safer.

"Proactive and innovative policing is exactly what I want to continue to see in Lancashire and my new Police Innovation Fund is now open to support new projects

and different ways of working to continue to take the fight to criminals and protect local communities."

Additionally, this year we hosted the What Works Collaboration Awards at the same event with Dr Michelle McManus from Liverpool John Moores University and Professor Nicola Graham-Kevan from UCLAN being acknowledged for research carried out in collaboration with the Constabulary.

The What Works Hub is a partnership between the Force and academic research to review our data and spot potential gaps to improve knowledge and understanding of certain issues in our county.

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Man who thought he was sending sexually explicit messages to teenage girls is jailed A Blackburn man who attempted to groom girls he thought were 13 and 14-years-old and asked them to send explicit images of themselves to him has been jailed.

Despite being told of the girls ages, 28-year-old Suleman Mahmood continued to send them sexually explicit messages.

It transpired Mahmood was communicating with decoys from the Online Child Abuse Activist Group (OCAAG). In order to prove Mahmood was the person sending the messages, members of the OCAAG attended his home in Dukes Brow on the evening of September 20, 2019.

Officers attended Dukes Brow and arrested Mahmood, who signed a statement at the scene in which he stated:

“I will be honest. I have made a big mistake. I had no intention to meet them. I just wanted to make friends. I knew they were underage.”

During police interview, Mahmood answered no comment to all questions put to him.

With the cooperation of the OCAAG and extensive investigation of digital evidence, detectives managed to establish that Mahmood believed he was talking to underage girls when he sent the highly sexualised messages and had incited them to engage in sexual activity.

It was established the offences took place between September 2, 2019, and September 10, 2019.

Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, in September 2020

Mahmood was charged with attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child; attempting to cause / incite a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity; and attempting to cause a child aged 13 to 15 to watch / look at an image of sexual activity.

Mahmood, of Dukes Brow, Blackburn, was due to stand trial in May of this year.

However, in April he pleaded guilty to the offences listed above.

Last week at Preston Crown Court, Judge Graham Knowles QC jailed Mahmood for five years and eight months. He also ordered him to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and made him subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, limiting his access to

the internet and interaction with children.

DC Claire Scott, of East CID, said: “Mahmood is a sexual predator who attempted to groom and engage in sexual activity with underage girls.

When he committed these offences, he genuinely believed – having been told by the decoys – that he was talking to real children. Despite knowing that he continued with his abhorrent behaviour.

“I am pleased with the sentence handed down to Mahmood and it reflects the danger that he presents to teenage girls. The associated court orders mean that Mahmood will be monitored by the authorities after he has been released from prison.

“We will continue to pursue and bring to justice, with the public’s help, those who seek

Suleman Mahmood, 28 to abuse youngsters for their own sexual gratification.

“I would like to thank OCAAG for their cooperation throughout this investigation.

If anybody has concerns about an individual, I would always encourage them to contact the police in the first

instance. We will thoroughly investigate those concerns and gather the evidence to put anybody who seeks to abuse children before the courts.”

Report any concerns online at https://doitonline.lancashire.police.uk/ or call 101.

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Local authorities and health services come together in landmark partnership A landmark partnership that has seen local authorities and the NHS come together like never before represents a “massive sea change” in the way health and care services are jointly delivered to the people of Lancashire and South Cumbria.

For years, services such as social care, GP practices, hospitals and public health were run by separate organisations with different objectives.

Starting this month, local authorities and health services will now come together more formally as part of Lancashire and South Cumbria Health and Care Partnership.

The partnership will be led

by Lancashire and Cumbria’s local authorities, which have responsibility for nearly all the determinants of health, including public health, housing, education and economic development.

A key goal of the partnership is to improve the health of the community so that we live healthier and longer, relieving pressure on the NHS. The partnership will have huge input from the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) Sector, which is so important in keeping people active and well in the community. It aims to deliver better joined up services, tackle health inequalities, ensure services are not duplicated by different organisations and deliver better health outcomes.

County Councillor Michael Green, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “The creation of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Health and Care Partnership represents a massive sea change in the way local authorities and the NHS work to promote and maintain

Man given summons after Barrowford death

A man has been given summons to appear at court following the death of a man in Barrowford.

Police were called around 5.20pm on October 29 last year after a report of a sudden death in River Way. Officers attended an address and found the body of a 45-year-old man, later named as James O'Hara (pictured).

He was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives believe Mr O’Hara was assaulted on October 19, with a post mortem linking his injuries to his death.

A man in his 30s was initially arrested on suspicion of murder and bailed.

Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, Michael Hannan, 31, of Tynwald Road, Blackburn, has been given summons for the offence of manslaughter. He is due to appear at Burnley Magistrates’ Court.

good health in the community. ''For many years, we've been working very closely with the NHS to join up services, to provide better health outcomes for our residents.

From now on it will be the local authorities and VCFSE who will be leading on supporting communities to keep people healthier, active and well. In doing so, as all the research shows, this will reduce pressures on the NHS. “Having the local authorities leading the partnership

gives us a vital opportunity to look at and improve the services we provide including housing, leisure services, education, economic development, public health and adult and children’s social care, to ensure they are fully integrated with NHS services.

“It will help us make a huge difference to people’s lives and ensure we provide better support for the people in our communities who need it most.

"Where people cannot be kept well, the NHS will be

there, as always, but more can be done by treatment in the community in intermediate care to keep people away from the need for acute hospital care as much as possible."

Commenting on Lancashire and South Cumbria Health and Care Partnership, Kevin Lavery, chief executive of NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, said: “There is an overwhelming sense of opportunity across all of the partners in Lancashire and

South Cumbria to work together to improve the health and wellbeing of our local people – and there’s a collective ambition to grasp it.

“I have an incredible sense of positivity about the future and greater integration of health and care.”

Lancashire County Council’s cabinet is set to formally agree its full support for the partnership with all the other local authorities in Lancashire and South Cumbria and confirm the councillor who will chair the new committee.

Son found guilty of murdering parents A jury at Preston Crown Court today (Thursday, June 30) found Lee Tipping (pictured, right), 36, guilty of the murders of Tricia Livesey and Anthony Tipping (pictured below), in their Higher Walton home in the early hours of November 20, last year.

Police were called at 1.40pm on November 20 to a concern for the safety of the occupants of the property in Cann Bridge Street. Officers forced entry and sadly found Tricia, 57, and Anthony, 60, deceased inside the address.

A Home Office post-mortem examination showed that they both died from multiple stab wounds.

Lee Tipping was arrested on suspicion of murder and was subsequently detained under the Mental Health Act. After a full review he was deemed fit for interview and after consultation with the Crown Prosecu-

tion Service he was charged with both murders.

Tipping admitted to killing his parents but denied murder, claiming self-defence and loss of control against his father and loss of control in relation to the death of his mother.

Following a four-week trial at Preston Crown Court, a jury rejected his defence and found Tipping guilty of two counts of murder.

Det Chief Insp Jill Johnston, of the Force Major Investigation Team, said: “This is an utterly tragic case that saw the very two people who loved and cared for Lee Tipping more than anyone else in the world, having had their lives taken away by him.

Tricia and Anthony devoted their lives to their son and they did everything for him. Despite this Lee subjected them both to the most horrific,

sustained and violent attack last year, that resulted in their deaths.

“Lee has shown no remorse for his actions and we know that he made extensive efforts to flee the country prior to his arrest in Manchester on the day after the murders. He has maintained self-defence and loss of control as the reason behind the killings, failing to accept any personal responsibility for the consequences of his ferocious attacks. Lee has subjected the families of both Tricia and Anthony to

a four-week trial, prolonging the upset and heart felt grief that has rippled through the close community in which they had lived for all of their lives.

“Sadly, this verdict today provides no relief from the tragic loss that Tricia and Anthony’s families and friends have suffered. They have remained incredibly dignified throughout this investigation and my thoughts remain with them at this incredibly difficult time.”

Tipping will be sentenced at a later date.

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New increased allowances for fostering and adoption panel members Increased allowances to ensure the county council can recruit skilled and experienced fostering and adoption panel members are set to be introduced.

set after researching the allowances offered by similar councils and independent fostering agencies.

Lancashire County Council's cabinet will consider the new fees on Thursday 7 July.

County Councillor Cosima Panels play a vital role in Towneley, cabinet member the fostering and adoption for children and families, process. They make recsaid: "These panels have an ommendations to ensure children are matched with the absolutely crucial role to play right foster carers or adoptive in ensuring children and young people have the best parents and monitor care to start in life and through into ensure children and young adulthood. The allowances people are being given the have not been revisited for best support. several years and it is crucial Increasing allowances will to attract and keep members help to ensure panels have who have specialist knowlmembers and chairs from diverse backgrounds with the edge in the field.

"The approval of carers and right skills and experience for adopters, matching of chilthese important roles. dren to families and assessPanel chairs are currently ment of the continued ability paid £450 per meeting and of carers to meet the complex the proposal is to increase needs of children and young this to £500. Panel members people are critical tasks. are currently paid £90 per "Many other local aumeeting, and this is set to thorities and agencies have increase to £120. reviewed their offer and we These new fees have been

need to keep pace with both allowances and working practices."

New 'Staying Put' arrangements are also set to be introduced. These will ensure financial support for people

who have been foster carers remains in place for the first year in the event a young person continues to live with them after the foster placement has ended.

County Councillor Towne-

ley added: "Many young people stay with carers who have fostered them after they turn 18. They are family and it is important these ties are nurtured.

"The reviewed financial ar-

rangements ensure carers and those being cared for have continuity in the familiar family setting, so that support for each young person can continue into adulthood."

Warning and witness appeal after Blackburn pensioner conned out of £38,000 in Rolex scam

Police are appealing for information after a Blackburn pensioner was conned out of £38,000 in a courier fraud scam.

The victim, a man in his 70s from the Roe Lee area of the town, was contacted on Tuesday (June 28) by a man falsely claiming to be a police officer from London.

The fraudster told the victim that his bank card had been cloned and used in a fraud in London.

The victim was then asked to call 161 to verify that the fraudster was a police officer. A woman – also a fraudster –falsely confirmed that the man the victim had been speaking to was a police officer.

The victim was later contacted by somebody claiming to be working for a bank’s fraud team on a covert police investigation with the fake police officer.

They convinced the victim

to purchase a £38,000 Rolex from a jewellers in Blackburn.

The watch was later collected by an Asian male claiming to be a police officer in plainclothes. He is described as being in his 20s or 30s with black hair and was wearing a high vis vest, blue jeans and white trainers.

The fraudsters asked the victim to transfer £35,000 from his bank account but he refused.

No arrests have been made at this stage but enquiries are very much ongoing.

DC Blair Patterson, of Blackburn CID, said: “This is an appalling crime committed against a very vulnerable victim.

“Our enquiries are ongoing to

identify the people involved in this fraud. I would ask anybody who saw a man matching the above description in the Roe Lee area of Blackburn – or captured him on CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage – around 1.10pm on Thursday (June 30) to get in contact with us as soon as possible.

“I would like to appeal for local jewellers or pawn shop owners to get in contact if you are offered the Rolex watch pictured for sale. I would also ask that you remain vigilant for any elderly or vulnerable people who come into your stores and ask to buy an expensive watch.

Although they might be making a genuine purchase, they

could also be the victims of this kind of fraud.

“These fraudsters have no morals and will use multiple tactics in a bid to con victims into either handing over money, their bank details or in this case a valuable watch.

Scammers target elderly and vulnerable people so please make your loved ones aware.

“It is important to stress that genuine police officers will never ask for your bank details, money or for you to help with investigations in this way. If you get a phone call from someone saying they are from the police or the bank do not provide your account details or hand over

any cash. If you are ever unsure about the identity of an officer, always call the police on 101.”

Anyone with information is asked to email 2881@lancashire.police.uk or call 101, quoting 0692 of July 2, 2022.

For help and advice about how you can stay safe from scammers visit Action Fraud via https://www.fscs.org.uk or call 0300 123 2040

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Short Breaks at Derwen College offers a break in picturesque Shropshire As the summer holidays approach, thoughts turn to making the most of a break from school, college or work.

For parents and carers of young adults with learning difficulties or disabilities, holiday options may seem more limited.

Short Breaks at Derwen College offers a break in picturesque Shropshire for adults with a range of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Set in idyllic countryside, yet close to nearby Chester, Shrewsbury and North Wales, Short Breaks offers guests the chance to enjoy a fun-filled break with trips and activities, or to chill out and relax with friends. For other guests, the facility can be the ideal stepping stone between home and supported living.

Derwen College offers Short Breaks respite care for over 18s for 51 weeks a year including day trips, social activities and independence skills. Though separate from College campus, guests have access to the exceptional College facilities which include a gym, sports hall and swimming pool.

Each guest has their own bedroom

with en-suite facilities, and specialist equipment if required. Guests and their families are invited for a look around to get to know the accommodation and staff, to make sure they feel happy about their new surroundings.

Each guest is carefully assessed so that staff can understand medical needs, behaviour plans, as well as likes and dislikes.

Short Breaks activities are tailored around guests’ preferences and wishes wherever possible – so visitors will want to come back again and again!

Short Breaks has room for a maximum of six guests at a time, with an average of four or five staying at one time – perfect for getting to know new friends, while in a cosy, comfortable environment.

A parent says: “Our son loves to take part in the trips and activities at Short

Breaks at Derwen, and appreciates that staff listen to his opinions and preferences. He has made friends of a similar age and learnt some home-making skills too. As parents, we can rest easy knowing that he feels safe and is having fun in a home from home.”

Another comments: “We

know our daughter really enjoys her short breaks on the college respite scheme.

We feel this is because the staff really understand her and her complex needs, and through providing structure and clear communication, plus interesting and motivating activities, she is happy and co-operative.”

Guest reviews for short breaks are also overwhelmingly positive, with many returning time after

time.

For example, Josh says: “I like Short Breaks! I like the staff, the food, and the days out!”

What more could anyone ask for from their summer holiday (except for the weather!)?

To find out more about what Short Breaks could offer you, email shortbreaks@derwen.ac.uk, or telephone 01691 779243. www.shortbreaksatderwen. co.uk

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Outstanding Abbeyford celebrates Ofsted result in style

Abbeyford Children's Home celebrated its most recent impressive Ofsted report in outstanding style over the weekend by throwing a garden party - with Disney characters and farmyard animals in tow.

Towards the end of last year, the St Helens Borough Council-run facility in Windle - which provides respite for children and young people with complex health, learning and social communication needs - was awarded its fourth consecutive 'Outstanding' Ofsted rating in as many years.

Key findings found highly effective safeguarding practice in place and that the home - which has continued to provide an exceptional level of care throughout the coronavirus pandemic - provides a warm and nurturing environment where children can thrive.

In addition, the inspector was full of praise for the senior leadership team which inspires a strong and nurturing child-centred culture, supporting staff who have often gone above and beyond by completing tasks outside their remit to support children and their families during a global pandemic.

For the first time since 2019, staff and service users - together with their parents and carers - were able to mark the occasion with an afternoon tea garden party which saw Spiderman swing by to join Disney Princess, Belle - as well as an array of farmyard animals and donkeys - for a day of fun.

St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councillor Nova Charlton, was among those in attendance to show her support.

Councillor Charlton said: "Abbeyford's Ofsted garden parties are always a brilliant occasion so, it's fantastic to see the event return and an honour to be invited down to celebrate this special achievement with the children and young people, their families and carers - and of course, the staff who work tirelessly to maintain such high standards of care.

"As a council, our first priority is to ensure all children and young people have a positive start in life and fantastic facilities like Ab-

beyford are a shining example of what can be achieved."

Speaking of his pride, Abbeyford Service Manager, Paul Spencer, said: "My sincere thanks go to the staff team here at Abbeyford

who continue to offer an excellent service provision to children and young people in the borough of St Helens.

"Maintaining Outstanding Ofsted status is without doubt challenging for the team however due to their passion, enthusiasm,

and commitment, they continue to aspire and achieve. I am very proud to be part of such an outstanding team and to be involved in supporting children and their families in St Helens."

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INSPIRATIONAL CHOIR SEEKS NEW CHORAL LEADER The North West is fortunate to have one of the country’s few dedicated Choirs for people living with or beyond cancer.

Founded in June 2012 Bolton Cancer Voices is proud to have been a trailblazer in harnessing the therapeutic benefits of singing for health.

A decade on they are looking to recruit a new Musical Director to inspire, guide and challenge them going forward. The ideal candidate will have experience of conducting amateur Choirs, a broad and diverse knowledge of choral repertoire and a commitment to the delivery of

musical excellence in a fun and inclusive way.

Karen Elliott – Founder & Chair of the Choir said:‘This is a wonderful opportunity to be part of something very special! It’s important that potential applicants understand and support the Choir’s ethos; appreciate the health challenges our members may face and have the capacity to deliver fun, uplifting, inspirational rehearsals.

After more than two years apart due to Covid, the Choir is more than ready to reunite and get back to doing what we love: with a growing waiting list for new members the pressure is on to find that exceptional individual who has the professional skills and experience together with the necessary personal attributes to bring us back together and ensure we are the best we can be!

We’re tremendously proud of all we’ve achieved to date and look forward to scaling new heights under the baton of our next maestro’.

The Choir is also accepting enquiries about membership, which is open to anyone over 18 years old who has received a cancer diagnosis of any type at any time. There are no geographical

restrictions, as long as you can travel to Bolton for rehearsals: membership is free, there are no auditions to worry about and you don’t need to be able to read music.

Whether you are a seasoned performer or looking to try something new, they would welcome hearing from you.

Enquiries pertaining to the position of Musical Director or membership are through Karen on 01204 595562 / 07773 164235

Can Healthy Water Improve Wellbeing?

When we are looking to improve our wellbeing, the focus is frequently on the food we eat or the supplements we take to support our body. Seldom does proper hydration figure in our decisions. Yet, proper hydration with health giving water can have a profound impact on our wellbeing. Very many people are dehydrated and most are unaware of it.

The largest fraction of our body is water. It’s not just there to fill up the spaces around our cells. It is very important for nutrient absorption, for detoxification and for body ph balance. All of these have a significant impact on our energy levels, our immune function. Our digestive system will not work well.

Proper hydration does not solely depend on the amount of water we drink, it depends on the ammount of water we

absorb. The quality of the water we drinl in addition to having adequate mineral electrolytes determines absorption.

Advances in the last few decades has led to a number of products that can transform the water we currently drink into water that is much more benficial for our health than tap water or bottled water.

Much of that research has been driven by the Japanese and Koreans who have a greater appreciation of the value of healthy water.

One of th foremost companies is Biocera from Korea.

Over the years at Watr for Health we understand that good health giving water should be a vital part of everyones protocol to enhance health. It is effective, affordable and probably the easiest thing we can do to improve or maintain wellbeing.

Water is life giving.

This article was written by Roddy MacDonald of Water for Health Ltd, a specialist company in the field of hydration and nutrition.

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THE HALAL FOOD FESTIVAL COMES TO MANCHESTER New Halal Food Festival makes its debut in Manchester this Summer taking place at the BEC Arena the bank holiday weekend on Saturday 27th August and Sunday 28th August 2022.

With over 100+ exhibitors, street food vendors, 4 indoor arenas and an outdoor fun fair we are set for a tasty bank holiday weekend.

‘The Halal Food Festival’ are extremely excited to make its debut in Manchester over 10,000+ foodies expected!

Greater Manchester is very well renowned for its dining options and diverse culture.

Attracting people from surrounding areas such as Blackburn, Bolton, Bradford, Dewsbury and more rush to the ‘Curry Mile’ every weekend. We feel this is a great opportunity for a huge sector of the community to be represented.

Our street food vendors are looking to represent from all over the globe including ‘Afrikana’, ‘OMayalsia’, ‘The Dutch Fishmen’, ‘Phat Jo's', 'The Butchers Kitchen' and Manchester’s very own and afro- Caribbean ‘Rita’s Reign’.

The main arena will play host to your favourite Halal brands such as ‘Armaan’, ‘Ceekays’, ‘Shana’ and ‘The Halal Food Shop’.

Celebrity chefs such as ‘Homemade Savouries by Sara’ as featured on BBC and The Islam Channel will be hosting live cooking demonstrations, workshops and competitions live in our cooking theatre. A vast array of gourmet desserts, savouries and lifestyle vendors will

also be available.

Arena 2 is set to be a ‘Artisan Market’ hosted by ‘Muslim Instashop Expo’. Expect fine delicacies, home décor, arts and crafts, fashion and beauty. This has been a great platform for small, start-up and Instagram businesses in the midlands at Birmingham’s Monthly Muslim Market.

Other areas include the outdoor fun fair and kids play arena with activities hosted by our official charity partner, ‘Islamic Relief ’.

With Manchester’s harmonious diverse mix of ethnicities, our aim is to become an annual date within Manchester festivities and calendar.

Starting from 12 noon to 8.00pm each day, be sure to arrive with an empty stomach!

Tufail Hussain, Director of Islamic Relief UK said: “Islamic Relief UK is honoured to be the official charity partner of the Halal food festival in Manchester.

“This will be an amazing outdoor event and we look forward to seeing thousands of people from all backgrounds and walks of life coming together to enjoy the fun, festivities, and delicious food. There will be great activities from a fun fair to a kid’s zone as well as prayer areas.

“Not only will families enjoy delicious food at the event but they will also be helping those less fortunate. Islamic Relief UK and the festival will have a charity target to feed 5000 people across the world as well as supporting

local homeless centres.”

Tickets for the weekend festival are available to buy from - https://www.thehalalfoodfestival.com/ Prices start at £7.00.

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CUMBRIA AND THE LAKE DISTRICT

Cumbria is home to the English Lake District and is a predominantly rural county, considered one of the most beautiful regions of the UK. Cumbria includes the whole of the Lake District, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, also known as The Lakes or Lakeland, the Eden Valley, the North Pennines, the Furness Peninsula, and part of the Yorkshire Dales.

Windermere lake, at 10.5 miles long, one mile wide and 220 feet deep, is the largest natural lake in both the Lake District and in England, and is fed by numerous rivers.

Strictly speaking, Windermere lake is just called Winder”mere”, with “mere” meaning a lake that is broad in relation to its depth.

However here, to avoid confusion with Windermere Village, we refer to it as Windermere lake.

The long thin lake itself forms the central spine of the Windermere lake area of the Lake District. This area is also known as the South

Lakes.

Bowness-on-Windermere is Lakeland’s most popular holiday resort. An excellent centre for boating activities, it has over 10,000 boats registered. Until March 2005 Windermere was the only lake in the Lake District without a speed limit. A 10 mph limit has now been imposed.

Steamers and launches operate from Bowness Bay to Waterhead at Ambleside, and Lakeside at the southern end.

At the southern end of the lake is Lakeside Pier, and Lakeside Station of the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway. Another popular attraction here is the Aquarium of the Lakes.

The only car ferry takes around 10 minutes to cross the centre of Windermere lake. It runs from Ferry Nab, just south of Bowness, to Ferry House at Far Sawrey and operates all year round.

The lake is today one of the prime destinations for water sports in the Lake District. Several marinas and Sailing and Windsurfing Centres are to be found on the shores. You will also find a large selection of Adventure Activity companies, guides and instructors for all

abilities based around the lake. Details of these can be found in our Activities Section.

Arthur Ransome based his book ‘Swallows and Amazons’ partly on Windermere lake and partly on nearby Coniston Water. There’s a superb range of places to stay in the South Lakes, from camping and hostels to luxury spa hotels and holiday cottages. Private hotels and b&b’s are plentiful in the area. Yurts and shepherd’s huts are at Low Wray, near Ambleside, and Rydal. Wherever you choose to stay you will find a great selection of excellent attractions to visit nearby. And for the adventurous, the outdoor activity industry in the Windermere lake area offers almost every imaginable opportunity. Bownesson-Windermere is on the east shore and the busiest tourist destination in the Lake District.

Ambleside, at the northern tip of the lake, is also very popular with visitors. Newby Bridge at the south end of the lake is slightly less well known and consequently a little quieter.

However it also has plenty of accommodation and attractions. It is connected to the lake cruises route via a short journey on the steam railway. Other popular visitor destinations around Windermere lake are the delightful Coniston, Rydal & Grasmere villages. These all have their own smaller lakes of the same names. Hawkshead, Sawrey and Troutbeck and the majestic Langdales are all close by.

Visitor Centres in the Lake District &

Cumbria Brockhole- The Lake District National Park Visitor Centre Brockhole, situated between Ambleside and Windermere, is the Lake District National Park Authority Visitor Centre. It is set in 30 acres of magnificent terraced gardens and grounds stretching down to the shore of Windermere lake, with splendid views of the surrounding countryside.

The grounds at Brockhole are now home to a large range of outdoor activities and boats and bikes can also be hired. Or you can just relax and enjoy the historic house, grounds and visitor facilities. You can also arrive at Brockhole by water.

Whinlatter Forest :Cockermouth / Keswick / Braithwaite / Lorton Whinlatter is England’s only mountain forest.

Planting first started after the first world war to combat the timber shortage. Whinlatter

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Looking for ideas to enjoy some free time this Summer? There is no shortage of things to do in the Lake District from indulging in good food and drink to unwinding with gentle strolls and lake cruises.

During summer, popular areas of the Lake District can become unbearably busy, however there are a few tips you can use to beat the crowds, traffic, and astronomical parking charges!

For a visit to Ambleside and Bowness, instead of parking in the towns themselves, start and end your visit at a nearby hotel outside of the centre – many of which will allow you to park for the day if you are visiting for afternoon

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tea or lunch etc. We did just that when we found Holbeck Ghyll, an award-winning hotel and restaurant with breath taking views of Lake Windermere. We started our day on the hotels terrace, a sun trap showcasing the stunning scenery, and indulged in an extremely delicious afternoon tea. The hotel kindly allowed us to leave the car whilst we enjoyed a short but scenic walk into Waterhead and Ambleside (from details we found on their website, www.holbeckghyll.com).

Another tip is to combine a lake view cruise with your travel plans, avoiding the road traffic!

Following a walk from Holbeck Ghyll to Waterhead, a great way to get

about is by boat using regular services provided by Windermere Lake Cruises. From Waterhead you can visit Bowness and the Brockhole visitor centre adventure playground (great for

the kids!)

The bonus for starting and ending your visit from a hotel? Your day can start and finish with good food and drink!

We just had to enjoy

the view from Holbeck Ghyll one final time before heading home…a summer cocktail (or mocktail for the driver!) was the perfect ending to an extremally relaxing day in the Lakes.

This day out is one to write home about and your taste buds will thank you for it too!

Don’t just take our word for it try it yourself and you won’t be disappointed.

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ON WINDERMERE LAKE Windermere, at 10.5 miles long, one mile wide and 220 feet deep, is the largest natural lake in both the Lake District and in England, and is fed by numerous rivers.

The long thin lake itself forms the central spine of the Windermere area of the Lake District. This area is also known as the South Lakes.

Looking north from the foot of Windermere lake, with Fell Foot Park right, and Lakeside Pier left.

On Windermere lake Bowness-on-Windermere is Lakeland’s most popular holiday resort. An excellent centre for boating activities, it has over 10,000 boats registered.

Steamers and launches operate from Bowness Bay to Waterhead at Ambleside, and Lakeside at the southern end.

At the southern end of the lake is Lakeside Pier, and Lakeside Station of the Lakeside

and Haverthwaite Railway.

Another popular attraction here is the Aquarium of the Lakes.

The only car ferry takes around 10 minutes to cross the centre of Windermere lake.

It runs from Ferry Nab, just south of Bowness, to Ferry House at Far Sawrey and operates all year round.

The lake is today one of the prime destinations for water sports in the Lake District.

Several marinas and Sailing

and Windsurfing Centres are to be found on the shores.

You will also find a large selection of Adventure Activity companies, guides and instructors for all abilities based around the lake. Details of these can be found in our Activities Section.

Arthur Ransome based his book ‘Swallows and Amazons’ partly on Windermere and partly on nearby Coniston Water.

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World of James Herriot - Explore & Discover It’s easy to see why the World of James Herriot visitor attraction attracts visitors from all over the world. There’s so much to see and do here… It’s not just for fans of the books!

worked and wrote his much-loved stories based on his experiences as a young veterinary surgeon working among the farming community of North Yorkshire.

The 1940s home and surgery

Stepping through the famous red door of 23 Kirkgate, Thirsk is to step inside the World of James Herriot, the fully-restored site of his original 1940s home and veterinary practice (known in his books as Skeldale House, Darrowby) set in the heart of stunning Herriot Country.

The home retains many of the original furnishings in the family rooms, frozen in time.

The dining room doubled as the practice office, where farmers’ bills were typed up at the desk; the sitting room displays original books and family photos; the basement converted to an air raid shelter during the Second World War; the breakfast room favoured for its relative warmth and the reproduction of a typical farmhouse kitchen.

The dining room and practice office The original dispensary containing all poExplore this magical time-capsule, where the tions great and small world’s most famous vet and one of the most As well as a family home, it was also a busy popular writers of the twentieth century lived, surgery with a dispensary crammed with fas-

cinating ancient and bizarre remedies and the The latest addition to the centre’s collection is cramped and primitive consulting room that the original 1938 Austin Seven car, Registrasaw the treatment of many a poorly pet – only tion JK 7443. creatures small were dealt with by Alf in here!

It appeared in the film “It Shouldn’t Happen to a Vet” with actor John Alderton as James Interactive Gallery Herriot, when it famously broke down in a There’s no telling children ‘don’t touch’ in this river in the Yorkshire Dales. gallery! Designed to engage children, young and old, the pieces use fun and interaction to Veterinary Science Rooms educate visitors about farm animals and how There’s an incredible array too of veterinary they interact with our lives. paraphernalia from Herriot’s time as a young Full of fascinating facts, the gallery gives vet – in an era before advances in diagnostics, visitors the opportunity to test their skills, modern medicine and agricultural machinknowledge and reflexes whilst learning how ery. It is the largest collection in the world. vets work with farmers to keep animals fit and well. Not just for children!

There is one installation that TV viewers particularly will recognise and that’s the ‘not to be missed’ opportunity to place your hand up a cow’s bottom! An essential skill that every vet has to learn, All Creatures Great and Small actor Christopher Timothy famously did his part on several occasions, much to the amusement of the cast, crew and viewing public!

On display is a 4,000 piece archive showcasHerriot Memorabilia ing veterinary instruments from the past to The World of James Herriot houses the largest the modern day. These items chart the history collection of Herriot memorabilia in the and progress of the profession over the years. world – from books, posters and letters to Some of the instruments appear primitive but ornaments and collectables. were all designed for a particular purpose, The Memorabilia Room is dedicated to dis- since refined and updated for the modern playing items that were instrumental in James vet’s practice.

Herriot’s writing career.

The display reveals the close link with veterinary surgeons and the armed forces, from TV Studios the days of the mounted cavalry and horses Take a close-up look behind the scenes of pulling gun carriages and supply wagons in a reproduced set from the BBC series All warfare. Even today, ceremonial horses and Creatures Great and Small and experience battle-trained guard and sniffer dogs are the the fascinating world of the TV studio and responsibility of the Royal Army Veterinary what was involved in the making of the TV Corp, formed in 1796. program.

Foldyard and The Farrier’s Workshop Much of Alf Wight’s work took place in farms all over North Yorkshire. To the rear of the house you will find the Foldyard and The Farrier exhibits, both with which Alf would have been very well-acquainted.

The Foldyard (described as an enclosure for sheep or cattle) houses a collection of primitive-looking hand tools in everyday use You can be the star of the show! Get in in farms before machinery appeared. In the front of the camera and imagine yourself as hands of skilled workers, however, these tools Christopher Timothy playing James Herriwere most effective. The Foldyard provides ot, Robert Hardy as the eccentric Siegfried an authentic setting for visitors to watch an Farnon, Peter Davison as Tristan Farnon, or exclusive short film of Alf Wight, his family Carol Drinkwater and Lynda Bellingham who and friends and the cast of All Creatures both played James’ wife Helen Herriot.

Great and Small.

The series was a hugely popular show and In the Farrier’s Workshop. the role of the had two runs from 1978 to 1980 (based farrier, which combines skills of both blackdirectly on Alf ’s books) and 1988 to 1990 smith and vet, is brought to life in this inter(filmed with original scripts). The equipment esting exhibit. Before tractors and combine on display shows just how far technology has harvesters, farming relied on manual labour moved on in TV and film, the huge cameras, and what limited mechanisation existed was endless cables, the intense heat from the light- driven by horses. Farriers were an integral ing rigs all making life pretty uncomfortable support to this system until the inevitable march of progress. for the actors involved.

World of James Herriot Ltd, 23 Kirkgate, Thirsk, North Yorkshire,YO7 1PL The Austin Seven Car from ‘It Shouldn’t Tel: 01845 524234 Happen to a Vet’

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The best parks in Yorkshire t Make the most of the warm weather this summer and head off on an outdoor adventure with the family.

Ideal for picnics, nature walks and soaking up some sun, these parks and gardens around Yorkshire offer a scenic spot to relax and unwind.

Bolton Abbey Estate The vast Cistercian ruins of Fountains Abbey provide an impressive backdrop for a picnic Visitors will be spoilt for choice with things to do at the popular Bolton Abbey Estate in Wharfedale.

Put your balance to the test crossing the 60 stepping stones, take a walk to see the Strid in the ancient woodland, enjoy the scenery along the nature trails, or nestle down on the lawns in front of the magnificent 12th century ruins.

Visit: Bolton Abbey, Skipton, BD23 6AL – www.boltonabbey.com Golden Acre Park Golden Acre Park in north Leeds is popular for its circular lakeside walk and pretty gardens Hugely popular for its pretty gardens and circular lakeside walk, this north Leeds park stretches across 55 hectares, providing plenty of space to bask in the sunny weather.

There’s a huge amount of space to set up a picnic, or you can head to the onsite cafe if you’d prefer.

Visit: Arthington Road, Bramhope, Leeds, LS16 8BQ – www.leeds.gov.uk Oakwell Hall and Country Park The vast Oakwell Hall estate stretches across 110 acres with a network of footpaths and nature trails for visitors to explore Combine sightseeing with outdoor adventures at Oakwell Hall and Coun-

try Park, where you can take a tour of the bautiful Elizabethan manor house, which offers an intriguing insight into the late 17th century, before heading off to explore the 110 acres of country park which surround it.

The vast estate is home to a network of footpaths and nature trails, where you can expect to find glorious scenery, flowers and wildlife along the way.

Visit: Nova Lane, Birstall, Batley, WF17 9LG – www.kirklees.gov.uk Manor Heath Park This nineteen acre park in Halfax is perfect for an active day outdoors, thanks to its many exciting on-site attractions.

Alongside woodland walks, a walled garden and wild flower area, children will love playing in the water park and sand pit, or spotting an array of exotic plants and creatures at The Jungle Experience, the park’s tropical on-site greenhouse.

There’s also plenty of spots to set up a picnic and if you’re feeling energetic, there is an outdoor gym where you can work up a sweat.

Visit: Halifax, HX3 0EB – www.visitcalderdale.com Valley Gardens These English Heritage grade II listed

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to visit with the family gardens in Harroage spread across 17 acres and feature an array of different areas giving visitors plenty to explore.

Have fun in the playground, skate park, boating pool and games areas, which include tennis, pitch and putt and crazy golf, take a dip in the paddling pool, or simply take some time out to wander the footpaths through the gardens.

Visit: Valley Drive, Harrogate, HG1 2SZ – www.harrogate.gov.uk Yorkshire Sculpture Park If you’re looking for a park that is a little more out of the ordinary, Yorkshire Sculpture Park won’t disappoint.

The magnificent open air gallery is home to around 80 sculptures and installations, offering a more unqiue way to appreciate some contemporary art by some of the world’s finest artists.

Visit: West Bretton, Wakefield, WF4 4LG – www.ysp.org.uk Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden Tucked away in a secluded valley, visitors are guaranteed to be impressed by the vast Cistercian abbey ruins and Georgian water farden at this National Trust site in Ripon.

A medieval deer park, Elizabethan Hall and

Gothic church are also on site to see, while the vast green lawns which lead down to the riverside provide a wonderful spot for a picnic.

Visit: Fountains Abbey And Studley Royal Estate, Ripon, HG4 3DY – www.nationaltrust.org.uk Roundhay Park A firm favourite spot to soak up some sun in Leeds, Roundhay Park stretches across 700 acres of pretty parkland, lakes and woodland, providing a picture-perfect location for leisurely picnic.

Youngsters are well catered for with two playgrounds on site, along with the popular Tropical World visitor attraction where a variety of exotic animals and plants can be seen.

Visit: Mansion Lane, Leeds, LS8 2HH – www.roundhaypark.org.uk Castle Howard This stunning 18th century historic house just outside of York stands within 1,000 acres of glorious landscape, with lakes, fountains, woodland, temples, rolling lawns, an ornamental garden and a children’s playround just a few of the delights which await to be explored in the grounds.

Visit: Castle Howard, York, YO60 7DA –

www.castlehoward.co.uk Greenhead Park Nestled just half a mile from Huddersfield town centre, Greenfield Park is the perfect spot to escape the hustle and bustle, and enjoy some time outdoors.

Home to a skate park, tennis courts, play areas, paddling pool and ornamental lake, as well as a miniature steam railway, there’s a great variety of attractions to keep the whole family entertained.

And visitors can even enjoy horse and carriage rides on weekends.

Visit: Trinity Street, Huddersfield, HD1 4DT – www.kirklees.gov.uk

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HITTING THE BEACH?

If you love beaches – then you’ll love North Wales.

With 250 miles of coastline, beaches aren't hard to come by. You'll discover a fantastic variety of diverse beaches in North Wales, with something to suit everyone.

North Wales’ coastal resorts were made famous by their fabulous beaches. Colwyn Bay beach, for example, has a longer coastline than Rio’s world famous Copacabana beach – that’s a lot of beach! It’s a consistent feature among the coastal resort beaches – long beaches which provide plenty of space for everyone to enjoy themselves peacefully.

For a day beside the beach with the family, the ever-popular seaside resorts of Rhyl and Llandudno continue to please. With long beaches there’s plenty of room to enjoy activities whilst the promenades provide plenty of entertainment.

If you’re planning a beach break to North Wales, a visit to one of the Llyn’s beaches is an absolute must. Hidden away, the Llyn’s secluded beaches provide the perfect location

for a peaceful getaway. Popular resorts like Abersoch provide a much livelier day at the beach, with plenty of things to do including a world-class water sports programme.

The Llyn is even home to one of the best beach bars in the world. Nefyn’s Ty Coch Inn has been voted by users of TripAdvisor as one of top ten beach bars in the world.

Being an island certainly has its advantages.

You’re never too far away from a beach when visiting Anglesey.

Scattered along the coast, you’ll discover a great array of beaches, from secluded to historic, Anglesey’s beaches are sure to delight and surprise.

If you’re a fan of history, then Anglesey’s beaches and coastline will be for you.

Anglesey has a rich maritime history, which is partly thanks to areas of water having a high copper content, which would help clean the boats before an excursion.

On Anglesey’s beaches you’ll find an array of historically important buildings including churches and lighthouses.

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SLOW TRAVEL RAILWAYS IN WALES

The timeless narrow-gauge railways of Wales are the perfect way to soak up the country's glorious scenery – and enjoy travel as it used to be 1. Ffestiniog Railway Built in 1832 to service the local slate industry, the Ffestiniog is the world's oldest narrow-gauge railway and uses lovingly restored carriages and locomotives that are over 150 years old.

Starting at the harbour in Porthmadog, the train travels 13.5 miles to the slate quarrying town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. Along the way it climbs over 700 feet into the mountains past forests, lakes, pastures and waterfalls, clinging to the side of the mountain or tunnelling through it.

The line is popular with railway engineers, apparently.

But that could be because of

the craft beers served in the dining carriage.

2.

Snowdon Mountain Railway Described as one of the most unique railway journeys in the world, the Snowdon Mountain Railway has been offering visitors an aweinspiring and enchanting way to reach the top of the highest mountain in England and Wales since Victorian times.

Starting in the tiny village of Llanberis, in the heart of Snowdonia National Park, your carriage will be pushed to the top by a heritage locomotive, past thundering waterfalls, to Eryri, the land of the eagles.

Railway buffs will want to book the Heritage Steam Experience on the Snowdon Lily, a period carriage built from the original chassis and bogey used when the line first opened. Pushed by one of three

working steam locomotives, it offers the opportunity to ride up the mountain like the early pioneers did, but with a little more leg room.

3. The Welsh Highland Railway At 25 miles long, the Welsh Highlands Railway is the longest heritage train line in the UK. It's also the most luxurious, with a First Class Pullman carriage and freshlycooked food brought to your seat.

The scenery is first class too.

The line runs past the foot of Mount Snowdon, from Caernarfon to Porthmadog, taking in the picture postcard village of Beddgelert and the stunning Aberglaslyn Pass.

Check the Loco roster on the Railway's website to see which restored steam engine is pulling the carriages on the day of your visit – the Earl of Merioneth or Linda

4. Talyllyn Railway Another Welsh line built originally to carry slate, the Talyllyn Railway is still very much the railway it always was, a rural byway where the pace of life is gentle, the average speed of the train is still less than nine miles per hour.

Set in the heart of mid-Wales, the train runs from from Tywyn to Abergynolwyn and Nant Gwernol, along

the unspoilt Fathew Valley and past the Dolgoch Falls.

Both the original locomotives and all the original carriages remain in regular use 5. Llanberis Lake Railway Situated in the heart of Snowdonia, this line offers a relaxing five-mile ride past the 13th century Dolbadarn Castle and along the shores of Lake Padarn to Penllyn, offering stunning views of Mount Snowdon along the

way.

Although the journey is short, there are plenty of opportunities to break your journey along the way. At Gilfach Ddu, where you can visit the National Slate Museum. (It's also where the train stops to take on water for the engine and the driver stokes the fire.) Or alight at Cei Llydan, a tranquil spot that is ideal for a lakeside picnic.

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Môr are THE watersports enthusiasts based on the North Wales seafront at Porth Eirias, Colwyn Bay. Offering Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) Lessons through the Water Skills Academy (WSA) for beginners to improvers we are in a fantastic location with excellent facilities and parking, just off the North Wales Expressway, the A55.

Only 30 minutes from Chester.

Not only do we run SUP lessons and taster sessions, but we also run demo days throughout the year where you can try out

the latest technology in paddleboards and find the best one for you. And we will be starting up SUP hire very soon as the season approaches full swing!

The shop also has the best range of Inflatable SUPs (iSUPs) in the North West of Britain and a great selection of wetsuits and other water sports equipment including everything you need for Wild Swimming, such as Dryrobe, tow floats and goggles.

Working in the building alongside our friends at Bryn Williams Michelin Star Bistro and

Café at Porth Eirias, was no coincidence as we are coffee lovers! This is the perfect spot to unwind and spend the day either taking advantage of the sandy beach, the fantastic paddleboarding, wild swimming or cycling the North Wales Coast path. There is also a bike shop here and leisure facilities just up ‘The Dingle’ to Colwyn Bay Leisure Centre, where the Wales under 20’s rugby team play.

COME ALONG SOON AND ENJOY THIS BRILLIANT UNIQUE FACILITY! Check out Môr in the following ways: www.morsups.com https://www.facebook.com/ morsups https://www.instagram.com/ mor_sups/

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TOP 5 CASTLES TO VISIT IN N

There are over 600 castles in Wales and it is said to have more castles per square mile than anywhere else in the world.

Here are the top 5 castles to visit in North Wales: CAERNARFON CASTLE Built in the 1280 by Edward I, Caernarfon is the largest castle in the area and does not disappoint. Having included all the mod cons for its day like toilets, running water and glass in the windows, this vast building is spectatuclar. A brute of a fortress.

Caernarfon Castle’s pumped-up appearance is unashamedly muscle-bound and intimidating.

Picking a fight with this massive structure

would have been a daunting prospect. By throwing his weight around in stone, King Edward I created what is surely one of the most impressive of Wales’s castles. Worthy of World Heritage status no less. Most castles are happy with round towers, not Caernarfon! Polygonal towers were the order of the day, with the Eagle Tower being the most impressive of these. You will also note the colour-coded stones carefully arranged in bands. The site of this great castle wasn’t chosen by accident. It had previously been the location of a Norman motte and bailey castle and before that a Roman fort stood nearby.

The lure of water and easy access to the sea made the banks of the River Seiont an ideal spot for Edward’s monster in masonry.

Edward wasn’t one to miss an opportunity to tighten his grip even further on the native population. The birth of his son, the first English Prince of Wales, in the castle in 1284, was a perfect device to stamp his supremacy.

In 1969, the investiture of the current Prince of Wales, HRH Prince Charles took place here.

Whilst you’re visiting this formidable fortress, don’t miss the opportunity to see

the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum, which is housed in two of the castle’s towers.

CONWY CASTLE Conwy Castle entrance is truly impressive with two fortified gateways and made up of eight enormous towers. The great hall, private chambers and kitchen can still be seen on visiting which gives you a real sense of what it would have been like back in the day.

Built for Edward I, by Master James of St George, the castle is amongst the finest surviving medieval fortifications in Britain. In a word, exceptional.

You can’t fault it, from the grandeur of its high towers and curtain walls to its excellent state of preservation. An estimated £15,000 was spent building the castle, the largest sum Edward spent in such a short time on any of his Welsh castles between 1277 and 1307.

Money well spent.

Two barbicans (fortified gateways), eight

massive towers and a great bow-shaped hall all sit within its distinctive elongated shape, due in part to the narrow rocky outcrop on which the castle stands. You won’t find Edward’s concentric ‘walls within walls’ here. They weren’t needed. The rock base was enough

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NORTH WALES

security in itself. Some say it is the most magnificent of Edward I’s Welsh fortresses.

To get the full picture, head for the battlements. Breathtaking views across mountains and sea. If the outside impresses (and it will), wait until you go in. With an outer ward containing a great hall, chambers and kitchen, and a more secluded inner ward with private chambers and a royal chapel, it is very easy to imagine how Conwy functioned when the royal entourage were in town.

HARLECH CASTLE Harlech castle is built on what is said to be the oldest rock in the world. It was impenatrable in its day due to its location.

Originally it would have been white as it was painted in limestone. The new visitors centre is a wealth of further infomation.‘Men of Harlech.’

The nation’s unofficial anthem, loved by rugby fans and regimental bands alike, is said to describe the siege which took place here during the War of the Roses, wherein a handful of men held out against a besieging army of thousands. Edward’s tried and tested ‘walls within walls’ model was put together in super-fast time between 1283 and 1295 by an army of nearly a thousand skilled craftsmen and labourers.Edward liked to use only the best masons from Savoy and England’s finest carpenters and blacksmiths.

At the time this was one of the

cheapest of Edward’s castles.

A snip at a mere £8,190.

The structure, overseen by Master of the King’s Works, James of St George, boasts two rings of walls and towers, with an immensely strong east gatehouse.

It was impregnable from almost every angle. Its secret weapon was a 200-foot (61m) long stairway which still leads from the castle to the cliff base. Access via the stairway to the sea and crucial supplies kept the castle’s besieged inhabitants fed and watered. When it was first built, a channel would have connected the castle and the sea. You could have sailed a boat up to the moat. Seven hundred years later, the sea has receded and you could say the castle appears almost stranded, waiting for the tide to turn once more. The newly installed ‘floating’ bridge at Harlech Castle makes access to the castle truly available for all. The bridge connects the castle with the brand new visitor centre in the former Castle Hotel building.

BEAURMARIS CASTLE This was the last of Edward I’s castles and he unfortunatly never saw it complete.

It is said to be one of the most beautiful of his castles. In terms of design and finish, the castle was super high-tech for its time with the ‘walls within walls’ features. Dare we say it, an absolute cracker of a castle with classic proportions and perfect symmetry. The last hurrah of Edward I’s massive building programme in north Wales… just a shame he never got round to finishing it!

With finances stretched to the limit and the Scots now increasingly effective in their resistance to the English monarch, his vice-like grip on Wales was beginning to slip.

Edward or ‘Longshanks’, on account of his extraordinary height, was forced to focus his attention elsewhere and the rest is, quite literally, history…

Technically perfect and constructed according to an ingenious ‘walls within walls’ plan, Beaumaris Castle

was the 13th-century hi-tech equivalent of a spaceship landing unceremoniously on Anglesey today. You can usually complain if a neighbour’s extension plans are a bit on the large side.

Seven centuries ago the problem was resolved rather differently. The population of Llanfaes was forcibly moved 12 miles (19km) away to Newborough to make way for Edward’s new castle.

CRICCIETH CASTLE This castle was built by Llywelyn the Great. The twin tower gate house would have been inimidating for visitors and due to its position, the castle was always in high demand and changed hands on a number of occassions.

Steeped in lots of history, its a very interesting site to visit.

What a picture, what a view! Perched on a headland with the sea as its constant bedfellow. Its twin-towered gatehouse intimidates prospective attackers.

So badly did the native Welsh princes and English monarchs want it, that it changed hands more often than a relay baton.

Built originally by Llywelyn the Great, this very Welsh of princes included a very English style of gatehouse.

Edward I’s forces took the castle some 50 years later, undertook their own improvements and remodelled a tower for stone-throwing engines. Not as much fun for those at the bottom as it sounds for those at the top!

Owain Glyn Dŵr sealed Criccieth’s fate when his troops captured and burnt the castle in the early years of the 15th century.

This was to be the last major Welsh rebellion against the English. Criccieth Castle may also have given the name to the town rather than the other way round. Its suggested origins are ‘crug caeth’ – ‘crug’ (hill in Welsh), ‘caith’ (captives) – the name given to the jail on the hill, a function once held by the castle. Buy an ice-cream, there’s a lot of history to digest.

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Dumfries is ripe for strolling. Laced by atmospheric lanes and quarters, you never know what you'll find.

There are many things to do in Dumfries. It can be a hidden garden, a centre for contemporary visual art and craft, a delightful parkland golf course, a confectionery shop, a bustling farmers' market, a Palladian mansion, lovely, red-hued sandstone bridges, or a medieval stronghold. Dumfries' museums are also treasure troves for uncovering the local his-

tory. Need we go on? Wherever you end up, it's probably going to be a place which will steal your heart. Nearby, you will find hills, rivers and forest parks that are the ideal setting for you to explore by foot, bike or boat. things to do in Dumfries & Galloway From the beautiful gardens, blessed by the warm climate, to the fascinating museums covering aviation, the war effort and Robert Burns, there’s plenty of things to do.

Start with these and then see what else you can find to do in Dumfries & Galloway.

Moat Brae House and Garden is the ‘enchanted land’ where Peter Pan began... This inspiring place has been saved from demolition, restored and opened as an International Visitor Attraction in Spring 2019 Moat Brae House and Garden is the ‘enchanted land’ where Peter Pan began...

This inspiring place has been saved from demolition, restored and will open as an International Visitor Attraction and National Centre for Children’s Literature and Storytelling in Spring 2019.

Open from Spring 2019, Moat Brae will offer tours, trails, events and activities for families and people of all ages. Celebrating Peter Pan and the ‘enchanted land’ that so inspired its author visitors can discover the heritage and secrets of the beautiful Georgian House and its Neverland Discovery Garden by the River Nith. Tour groups welcome, shop, education suite.

Annandale Distillery was established in 1836 and reborn in 2014 following an extensive £10.5million restoration project. Once again single malt Scotch whisky is being produced in the region after almost a 100 year sleep.

The rebirth of Annandale Distillery and its transformation into a 21st century whisky making centre and visitor attraction is Dumfries and Galloway’s most ambitious tourism story.

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The historic distillery has been through 3 whisky making eras and a period when it was used in farming. It was formerly a Johnnie Walker distillery which closed in 1918. Following an extensive £10.5 million restoration project, Annandale Distillery was reborn in 2014, with production starting on 3rd November.

Annandale Distillery and Visitor Centre was officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal on 10th September 2015.

Logan Botanic Garden is located at the south-western tip of Scotland and is unrivaled as the country’s most exotic garden.

Visit Logan Botanic Garden and discover a remarkable collection of unusual and beautiful plants. A pleasure for all the family, Logan is an exotic paradise. Visitors can walk through groves of eucalyptus and palm trees or stand in the shade of awesome giant rhubarb-like gunnera.

The Walled Garden is a breathtaking celebration of the world of plants. From spring to late autumn, a blaze of colour greets the eye and the air is heavy with rich scents. On a sunny day, the atmosphere is truly tropical.

Plant treasures from South and Central America, Southern Africa and Australasia flourish here and the

elegant Logan Conservatory houses a range of especially tender plants. A stroll to the highest point at Logan will be rewarded with a breathtaking view across the Rhins of Galloway Hills and beyond.

choose from short trails to more strenuous way marked paths. The numerous trails, which range from 1.5km to 7km, follow an extensive network of paths and tracks.

Or why not explore the scenic cycle tracks and off-road Visitors can drop into Logan’s mountain bike trails? There Discovery Centre to unis a trail to suit every ability earth the garden’s intriguing and interest from technical history, from its foundation single-track routes, to swoopto its current wealth of plant ing family trails through the collections. For lunch or beautiful Drumlanrig woodrefreshment, locally-sourced lands, to scenic country back food and drink is available at roads. Bikes and trailer hire is the award-winning ‘Potavailable. ting Shed Bistro’ while the Alternatively discover the Garden’s shop offers a range estate’s wild landscapes, of gifts, souvenirs and plants diverse natural history and for sale flora and fauna. Keep a look Drumlanrig Castle out for otters, red squirrels Immerse yourself in histoand birds of prey as well as ry at majestic Drumlanrig some of the estate’s most Castle. impressive trees including the Set in the 120,000 acre Drumlanrig Sycamore – one Queensberry Estate, comof the oldest in the country – plete with a country park and and the very first Douglas Fir Victorian gardens, this 17th to be planted in the UK. century castle is one of the Situated against the specmost important Renaissance tacular backdrop of the castle, buildings in the country. The adults can sit back and relax Dumfriesshire home of the on benches while watching Duke and Duchess of Buctheir children explore the cleuch, Drumlanrig Castle aerial runways, slides, rope with its magnificent rooms bridges and climbing frames and spectacular collections of the estate’s fantastic advenof silver, porcelain, French ture playground.. furniture and art - including After all that hard work, sit Rembrandt’s Old Woman back and relax in the TeaReading - is perhaps one room or browse the Gift Shop of the most rewarding and and Stableyard Studios where romantic of Scotland’s great you’ll find local shop-makers houses. and crafts people.

Spend a day exploring the estate on foot and you can

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Explore the stalls at Burnley Markets Discover a wide variety of local independent stores alongside inspiring pop-up at the heart of Burnley town centre.

Butchers, bakers and candlestick makers, well… nearly (2 out of 3 ain’t bad). Burnley Market is home to many varied and unique stores, from fresh fruit and veg and experienced butchers to nail bars and affordable fashion to suit all tastes, and not forgetting our phone and gadget repair specialists.

Whatever you’re in the market for you’ll find it in the Market Hall.

Fashion and Beauty

Explore the worlds of high fashion and on trend beauty treatments – right here in the middle of Burnley!

Food

Fresh foods are what markets are made for! Choose from our fruit, veg, and meat suppliers – including yummy Haffner’s pies!

Services and all the Rest!

So much choice in the Market Kitchen – a world of cuisine on your doorstep!

Produce We’re at your service! Whether you need a newspaper, a work of art framing or a mobile phone repaired, Burnley Market can help you out.

Technology Gadgets galore at Burnley Market.

Up-to-date phones and gizmos and the knowledge to help you find the right thing at the right price.

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LANCASHIRE MARKETS More and more of us go let life rush by in an endless cycle of work, quick shop, eat, bed and repeat. Shopping has become one of the many chores that we carry out on a daily or weekly basis as hectic lifestyles get in the way of allowing ourselves to slowly stroll around one of Lancashire’s famous markets, looking for a bargain and chatting with a knowledgeable local market trader. Why not return to the days where the people whom you buy your goods from become friends who you regularly pop along to see for a chat and advice on anything from politics, sport or which kind of potato to use in a hotpot.

10 Reasons to Visit Your Local Market 1. Market stall holders don’t have the same over head prices as bricks and mortar stores, so you’ll always buy things at a very reasonable price.

2. Great places to spend a few

hours wandering around on a sunny weekend. Fun for the whole family.

3. Many markets sell home made food or are located in venues where you can grab a bite to eat. So you can shop and eat! What more could you want?!

4. Learn about Art, craft and design. Kids and adults alike enjoy exploring the creative world of art and design by browsing market stalls and talking to artists and designers.

5. Lots of stall holders are regulars at the markets they attend, so if you fall in love with one of their products, you can always go back and buy it again. Many stall holders also have online stores so you can discover great products that are available online, while still supporting local business.

6. When you buy a product in a department store, you’re never aware of who made it, how it was made and more often than not, all you know

is it was probably made in a factory in China. When you buy from the markets, you almost always meet a products’ maker who will gladly tell you how it was made, what it’s made from and where it was produced.

7. As almost all products you’ll find at art and craft markets are handmade, it’s common to find products made from recycled or upcycled materials, organic ingredients and making processes that are environmentally friendly. Not only will you be supporting local industry but you’ll also be supporting our environment.

8. If you are new to an area or visiting, it’s a great way to meet local characters, eavesdrop on local conversation and find out a little something about what makes the locals tick.

9. If you’re tired of looking at the generic products of Myer, David Jones and other department stores, but still

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want variety, durability and quality, markets are the place to go.

10. I think this one is the most important. Keep up to date on art and design being created by the people who live in your local community. Buy their products and support local artists and designers.

ACCRINGTON MARKET Tel: Market Superintendent 01254 233816 Market Hall, Blackburn Road Open: Monday , Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 8.30am to 5.00pm Wednesday 8.30am to 1.30pm Sunday Car Boot Market Accrington boasts a seventystall, Victorian Market Hall, built in traditional style in 1868 and which has undergone extensive renovation and redecoration.

At the rear of the Market Hall is a traditional Open Market of some one hundred and eighty stalls, most of which are housed under two contemporary concrete and glass ‘umbrella’ roofs.

BLACKBURN MARKET

Tel: 01254 669258 Open: Monday to Saturday 9.00 am - 5.30 pm Those with eye for a bargain will find plenty of opportunity to spot value for money at Blackburn Market. There is a fabulous mixture of fresh food food stalls selling meat, fish and game. Alongside is a new eating area with shared seating so customers can choose. Fashion, health & beauty, cards and gifts, plus speciality stalls selling latest household goods and technology – its all there.

BURNLEY MARKET Tel: 01282 477188 Market Square, Burnley Open: Market Hall MondaySaturday 9.00 am – 5.00 pm (Tues 10 am - 3 pm) Open market Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 9 am - 4 pm The market hall is a large, spacious, modern building creating a bright, light, airy environment for its 119 stalls which, since its completion, has proved extremely popular with shoppers. Adjacent to

the market hall is the popular traditional open general retail market boasting 144 stalls retailing just about everything you could possibly imagine.

This together with the market hall provides the opportunity for shoppers to browse over 263 stalls and all under one roof.

FLEETWOOD MARKET Tel: 01253 887651 Open: Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sat all year 9 am - 4.30 pm and Bank Holiday Monday Fleetwood market has been located on its present site since 1804. Today Fleetwood’s Traditional Market has over 250 stalls in its three indoor heated halls and large outdoor market selling a wide variety of goods from clothes to food and much much more. With thousands of bargains available, the most famous market in the North West is definitely worth a visit. Fleetwood Market is renowned for its variety of goods, traditional values and friendliness.

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Planning For Your Wedding Day 2022

As couples plan for their big day for 2022 now is the time to get into shape. and start organizing for what will be the best day of their lives. For the bride, you can’t start earlier enough.

You want to arrive at the alter looking vibrant with health and beauty, so what better excuse do you need to invest a little bit of time, money and energy in getting you there?

Whether it is planning a few pampering trips to some spas or joining a gym, not only can you trim your figure, you’ll do wonders for your complexion and overall energy levels.

Shopping for the wedding dress is probably the part of the wedding plans you are looking forward to more than any other aspect. The majority

of bridal gowns bought in the UK are classed as ‘off the peg.’

You try on a sample of the gown in the shop; they take your measurements and order the most appropriate size for you which is then delivered to the shop for alterations to fit your exact shape and size.

Don’t panic, there may be a huge amount to do but here is a handy checklist with some of the main points to take into consideration in the build up to the big day!

12 months before…

Choose a wedding date Decide on a budget Make a list of guests and decide on numbers Book your Church/Ceremony location. Book your reception venue/caterers. Choose your Bridesmaids, Ushers and Best Man. Start looking for The Dress!. Choose and book your

photographer 8 months before…

Choose bridesmaids’ dresses Book entertainment Choose and order your wedding cake Make an appointment with your chosen florist 6 months before...

Give Notice of Marriage Purchase or hire menswear Select your wedding rings 4 months before...

Send out your wedding invitations Arrange fittings for the wedding dress and menswear 1 month before...

Arrange a final fitting of your wedding dress your bridesmaids, ushers and best man. Enjoy your hen and stag parties!

2 weeks before...

Confirm the date and time of the rehearsal to the relevant

people 1 week before...

Arrange to collect your wedding dress, bridesmaids

dresses and the menswear Have all your beauty treatments Drink plenty of water and

have some early nights Relax and enjoy this time – all your hard work is about to come to completion!

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How To Get An Upgrade On Your Honeymoon!

Getting married isn’t just about going on honeymoon, but it sure is an exciting plus to the whole shebang! But how do you go about milking the special occasion for all its worth? Everyone loves an upgrade and if you can’t get one when you’re going on your honeymoon then when can you? It’s the perfect opportunity to be pampered and spoiled, especially after all the stress of the wedding planning is over.

Calling first class!

There are so many moments where you might be able to wangle an upgrade when you go on honeymoon. The first is the flight. This is a lot easier to accomplish if you haven’t booked a package deal through a high street travel agency. If you’ve booked flights and accommodation separately then turning up at the airport in your finest clobber, rather than like a scruff bag (albeit a very comfy one), is a great

way to find yourself boosted up to First or Business class.

This is an important fact to consider as the area you want to be moved into is usually full of very well-heeled people. The next step is to arrive at the airport early.

This gives you the best opportunity of nabbing any last-minute upgrades.

Don’t forget to check again when you reach the gate in case an upgrade has become available since you checked-in. Another hot tip for making it more likely to receive an upgrade is to fly on a Saturday as this is when business travellers are usually at home, meaning you have less competition.

Tell the world you’re here for your honeymoon Once you’ve made it to your honeymoon destination the next step towards getting an upgrade is to tell everyone that you’re on your though. Telling businesses honeymoon! It’s important that you’re going on your to do this at the right time honeymoon when you make

the booking tends to hike the prices up. So, you’re better off waiting until you hit the runway to mention that you’re newly-weds on honeymoon. If you’re staying in a hotel then mention at check-in that you’re on your honeymoon and ask if there are any honeymoon suites available for you to upgrade to or if there is anything they can do for you to help make your honeymoon more memorable.

Then as you go about making

your precious memories whilst you are away, you need to keep speaking up.

Tell everyone you meet that you’re there on your honeymoon. You never know, it might lead to a couple of free glasses of champagne over dinner at any of the restaurants you might visit!

The same can be said for any activities, excursions or day trips that you intend to do whilst you’re away.

Live like an A-lister Of course, before you even

get to this stage you need to decide on where to go!

If you’re at a loss for ideas, other than knowing that you want the A-list treatment, then take a leaf out of @ RocknRollBride’s book. She says that ‘If you’re looking to really go all out on your honeymoon, to have a once in a lifetime experience and to truly live it up like a rock star, then the Maldives has to be top of your list.’

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Royal Welsh Agricultural Society looks forward to the future at the Annual General Meeting “Whilst the last two years have been the most challenging of all years, we now look with renewed enthusiasm at bringing normality back to the events and to the daily rhythm of the Society.” said Mr John T Davies, Chair of the Board of Directors, in his address to members at the Annual General Meeting of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society held on 16 June 2022.

Hosted by this year’s Feature County of Clwyd at Coed Coch, the beautiful home of this year’s President,

Mr Harry Fetherstonhaugh OBE FRAgS, the 2022 AGM looked back on what has been a more optimistic year since the pandemic, and forward to this year’s Royal Welsh Show, only a few short weeks away.

Reflecting on the past year, Mr John T Davies said; “The year 2021 has allowed us the opportunity to embark upon transition towards the new normal in all aspects of our business post-pandemic. The first small steps in bringing people back to the hallowed turf of Llanelwedd came with the one off Equine Event in

September, along with the AGM and Awards gathering in the same month.”

“The decision to run the Winter Fair in 2021 with continued Covid uncertainty was a close call, but nevertheless the correct decision. It allowed us to regain our confidence and capacity to run large events. My sincere congratulations go to the Winter Fair team for making sure the return of the Winter Fair was a resounding success.”

At the December Council meeting last year, the Society was fortunate to be able to

meet face to face once again, renewing fellowship and friendship after a two-year lapse. It was also an important day for the Society, as Mr David Lewis, Chairman of Council, retired after a decade in the Society’s highest office.

“Dai’s contribution extends well beyond his retiring position within the Society, as he has held the three highest offices, as President and Chairman of Board as well.

As we thank Mr David Lewis for his immeasurable contribution and dedication to the

Society in so many different ways, I also wish to add my personal thanks for his steadfast support and invaluable friendship throughout my time as Chairman of Board.”

Said Mr John T Davies.

The wind of change continues into 2022 as we welcome Mrs Nicola Davies to the elected position of Chair of Council, a historic moment within the Society as she is the first woman to take up the position.

“Nicola has proven over the decades that she holds the best interests of the Society firmly close to her heart.

My sincere best wishes go to Nicola. She will be firmly supported by another passionate servant of the Society, Mr Alwyn Rees, as Vice Chair of Council. Congratulations to both of them on election to high office within the Society.”

In her opening address to members at the AGM, Mrs Nicola Davies said; “Balancing expectations with reality and maintaining the support of our membership and our customers is a challenge and something that we all will be part of from our staff, membership and committees to Council and Board. Our thanks go to all of these for their continued support.”

“However, my wish is that the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society will further embrace its role in promoting rural Wales, our heritage, our agricultural industry and our people, both young and old.

We are in a very privileged position in that we can be a conduit for change, challenging perceptions and encouraging conversations and in so doing reaching out not only to those that are aware of what we do but also those that are not.”

Moving onto the Feature County Clywd, Nicola commented; “This Society has faced turbulent times in the past and will again in the future but Clwyd as a feature County, under the leadership of our President, Ambassador Lowri and the committee by his side, has shown us the

tenacity, the perseverance and the commitment that is needed to survive and thrive.”

Addressing the members, Mr Harry Fetherstonhaugh, the 2022 President, thanked his wife, Davina for her support, along with the wider Clwyd team for their hard work and support over the last two years. The Grassland event, held on 12th May at Llysfasi College, was a resounding success. Thanks go to the thousands who turned up and the companies who demonstrated, exhibited and sponsored the event.

Looking toward the future, John T Davies gave an outline of what is in store for the upcoming Royal Welsh Show, the first in three years due to the pandemic. (18 – 21 July 2022).

With livestock continuing to form the centrepiece of the show, he was pleased to report strong entries, ensuring everything is set for four days of fierce competitions showcasing the very best of British and Welsh agriculture.

The big attractions in the Main Ring this year will be the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery performing their Musical Drive, one of the most spectacular displays of horsemanship in the world, and daredevil quad bike stuntman Paul Hannam, with his thrilling Quad Bike Stunt Show. Not to be missed are the RAF Falcons, the UK’s premier military parachute display team, with their exciting free fall display at speeds up to 120mph.

Returning to entertain the crowds will be the impressive Regimental Band of the Royal Welsh, Black Mountains Falconry, Tristar Carriage Driving, and Meirion Owen and his Sheepdogs.

The Royal Welsh Show will take place at the showground in Llanelwedd on 18 – 21 July.

For more information on the Society or the Show please visit www.rwas.wales

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Ktwo’s Roadeo Compact And Push Trailer

Ktwo, one of the biggest British manufacturers of farming machinery, has manufactured the Roadeo Compact and Push Trailer which is being hailed the next generation of trailer.

It’s been designed to increase capacity by compacting its contents which can achieve up to an additional 40% per trailer.

The Roadeo Compact and Push Trailer is unique in its design because it doesn’t tip to empty it’s produce, instead it compacts and pushes its contents out. This

increases capacity through compaction and reduces costs by increasing the volume each trailer can take by up to 40%.

The Roadeo Compact and Push Trailer’s success is also based on its safety and reliability.

The chassis and running gear have been designed to provide maximum stability with the very best of on-and-off road handling characteristics as demanded by today’s high-speed tractors. It is fitted with high specification axles and brakes to ensure that the trailer can stop safely in all conditions. ‘’Our Roadeo Compact and Push Trailers are already being

used by farmers and contractors in the UK and worldwide.’’ Explains Robbie Polson, Ktwo Managing Director. ‘’We regularly get praise for their time and cost saving benefits to farming.

The increased capacity and emptying speeds reduce fleet running costs dramatically.’’

The traditional tipping trailer is likely to be replaced by the safer and cost saving pusher design in the future.

For more information on Ktwo and The Roadeo Compact and Push Trailer, visit: www.ktwo. co.uk

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Road safety innovation for motorists Modern motorists need new and better road safety solutions. The Be-Seen Screen is designed as a fast and highly effective warning signal for broken down vehicles on busy roads.

Placing the traditional warning triangle 45 metres along the carriageway represents a risk in itself. The BeSeen Screen is a bright and reflective alternative warning sign that can be in place in moments.

By pressing the powerful suction pads to the rear windscreen or boot you can clearly and securely display the distinctive chevrons and ‘broken down’ message. This can provide the vital extra seconds of awareness that prevent accidents.

The Be-Seen Screen is the brainchild of entrepreneur, Richard Edwards, and is

endorsed by a former Senior Policing Area Commander of Thames Valley Police, who knows that the dangers and deaths on our roads need to be radically reduced.

The product has taken three years to perfect and has been extensively tested on a range of vehicles, both indoors and outdoors, at the Millbrook Vehicle Proving Ground in Bedford.

The banner has the same reflectivity as emergency vehicles, day or night, to make other motorists aware of your stranded vehicle. It is suitable for use on cars, vans, caravans, and HGVs. The Screen uses a micro-prismatic method to

achieve high reflective performance in all light conditions, tested at multiple angles. The lime-yellow and red chevron design is immediately recognisable as a warning.

Importantly, the product’s design means that motorists can have full confidence in its effectiveness at any time because it doesn’t use electronics that can degrade, and an energy source isn’t needed.

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Winner of Runwood Homes’ care chef of the year announced during finals at Billingsgate market

Six finalists across Runwood Homes Senior Living and sister company, Sanders Senior Living, made their way to Billingsgate Market on the 8th of June to take part in the Care Chef of the Year award live finals. The competition was organised by Chris Williams, Group Hospitality Manager, and James Cotton, Group Development Chef, and was launched back in February.

The finalists included talented chefs from across the Group, including Craig at Lower Meadow in Warwickshire, Michael at Redbond Lodge in Essex, Tomasz at Ivy Court in Doncaster, CJ at Madelayne Court Essex, Oscar at The Belmont in Worcester and Gary at Leawood Manor in Nottingham.

The finalists, along with Chris Williams and James Cotton came together bright and early at the market, and as part of the day they enjoyed a market tour and fish masterclass from CJ Jackson.

The finalists had 60 minutes to then prepare and cook their chosen dishes, before serving to special guest judges.

The brilliant dishes that were prepared and served set an exceptionally high standard and the judges had a tough time picking a winner. After much deliberation though, the judges proudly announced Gary Edson at Leawood Manor as the well-deserved winner for his delicious lamb rump dish, which was prepared with

spring onion mash, minted pea puree, carrot puree, braised red cabbage and a red wine jus.

Gary proudly received his award, along with a prize, and his dish will now be certified as a ‘Runwood Certified Dish’ and featured on menus across the country.

Craig Martin from Lower Meadow received second place and Michael Kirwan from Redbond Lodge was awarded third place.

Both Chris and James were so pleased with how well the final event went and would like to say a big thank you to everyone involved in the planning of the event and a special thank you to all the brilliant sponsors, including Jamie Clews from Robot

Coupe, Mark Taylor at Bloom Foodservice and Danny Silcock at Brakes.

James Cotton said: “I am so pleased with how yesterday's event went. It was a great day in an iconic venue with lots of fantastic food.

Thank you to everyone at Billingsgate Market for edu-

cating us all and being such fantastic hosts and thank you to everyone who was involved in the event. Of course, a big well done to our finalists and winner too.”

Chris Williams commented: “It was great to see the competition and the live finals go so brilliantly and to showcase

the talent and passion of some of our chefs across the Group. Food plays a big part in the care home setting and so organising an event like this one reflects how much we as a company value the importance of good food in our care homes.”

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Home Improvements That Add Value

If you are looking to add value to your house, why not try out some home improvement upgrades?

Here are two home improvement upgrades that add value…

It can be super exciting to embark on home improvement projects, but it’s even better

when the upgrades you opt for add value to your home. It’s worth bearing in mind, however, that some improvements might be worthwhile to you personally, they may not increase the value of the house to others.

In this article, we’ll sum up our top five ways to add value to your home through

improvements which you — and future buyers — will benefit from. Here are the top home improvement upgrades that add value…

1. Add insulation In addition to increasing the value of your home, installing energy-saving insulation will also reduce your energy bills as well as ensure you’re minimising

TO ADVERTISE HERE PLEASE CALL OUR FRIENDY STAFF ON 0115 6972677

your carbon footprint. If you opt to insulate your loft or basement, this is a job that you can easily do yourself with a little bit of time and patience, but if you’re insulating your walls then we recommend you hire a professional to do it right. Another method of insulation is double glazing — double glaze your windows to further lock in warmth and add value to your home.

2. Upgrade your heating system Next on our list of home improvement upgrades that add value is to upgrade your heating system.

Adding or upgrading your heating system is a failsafe way to add value to your home. You can do this with a few options, such as replacing windows (or add double glazing if possible, as mentioned in tip #1), seal any drafts around doors and windows or replace a boiler.

If your existing boiler is due an upgrade and has passed the point of repair, then it’s a worthwhile investment to get a new boiler installed in your home.

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Much maligned Skem golf course now better than ever Beacon Park Golf Centre in Skelmeresdale is being hailed as looking and playing better than ever according to two long-standing members, who’ve been using the community course for over 25 years between them.

Beacon Park Golf Centre has endured a tough few years, with negative comments on social media, COVID lockdowns and delays in the reintroduction of the first tee, but thanks to a new grounds team and some very understanding members, the course has turned a corner is looking better than ever.

Bob Seery, who’s been a member for 14 years and Ronnie Burns, who’s been playing the Beacon for 12, are among a large group of current members who’ve seen the course blossom over the past 12 months, and they feel it’s down to the efforts of the hard-working grounds team.

Ronnie said: “Since Head Greenkeeper Peter Lawton started at Beacon back in early 2021, this place has been transformed.

It looks better than ever Peter and his team are doing a fantastic job to bring this place back to its glory days.

We’ve had some rocky times

at the Beacon in recent years, but the members here never lost hope.

“We can’t wait for the first hole to be reintroduced into play, and we’re confident Peter and his team will be doing all they can to get that sorted as soon as possible.”

Peter Lawton, who started at the Beacon in January 2021 having previously worked as Deputy Course Manager at Deanwood Golf Club in Newbury added: “We’ve come a long way in a relatively short time, but there’s still so much to do around the course. I won’t rest until we’re able to restore the first hole and get competition golf back at the Beacon.

The members here are a great bunch and they deserve a course they can be proud of.

“Our regulars have shown great patience while we make the improvements needed to get the Beacon back to its old self. I’d like to thank players like Ronnie and Bob and so many

others who’ve been supportive of me and my team, Ben Skinner and Mark Richards.

There’s only three of us, and there’s a lot of ground to cover, but we’re giving our all

to this course.

“Because our prices are so reasonable - our fees are considerably lower than most other courses in the area - this is the perfect place for people thinking of taking up this great sport. It’s got so much potential to attract new people to golf, people who might not think this is the game for them.

“If you check out our Instagram page, you’ll see just how good the course looks these days, and we’ve got some fantastic views around the course, including the Snowdonia Mountain Range from the 9th tee and the world-famous Blackpool Tower from the 14th.”

More Leisure Community Trust manages Beacon Park Golf Centre and three other leisure facilities in the region: Park Pool, Nye Bevan Pool and Burscough Racquet & Fitness Centre. They operate the centres in partnership with Serco Leisure and on behalf of West Lancashire Borough Council.

For more information about the Beacon Park Golf Centre, visit its website: https://www.westlancsleisure. com/beacon-park-golf-centre/memberships/

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continued......

first half of the [2021/22] season. It’s class working with him and when he called me again, I knew straight away [that I’d come].

“It was the same feeling as when he called me before I went to Anderlecht. It’s a big loan for me in my career and progression.

“I feel like it was the right decision to come here with the football club and the manager.

“It’s a compliment [that Kompany wants to work with me again]. I was buzzing when he called me and it was a no-brainer with the club, not just the manager, although he was a big part of it.

“I watched him growing up and he was the person I watched being a City fan. He was huge and to work under him again will be class, I’m

looking forward to it.”

Harwood-Bellis on his time in Belgium with Kompany and what the boss said to him this time around “It was massive for me in my life and in my progression in football. I really enjoyed it out there to be honest, it’s a good country and a good league.

“The club I was at was massive, and again the manager and the staff there were all brilliant. That made my decision quite easy to come here. “[Kompany] said the same to me as he did when he was at Anderlecht. He’s come here to put his stamp on things and he’s got a plan for the club.

“Obviously, he’s a winner himself, and the thing I noticed at Anderlecht was that he makes everyone around him winners too.

“That was something I wanted to be a part of again and

with the club, it’s matched with him as well. It’s huge, an easy decision.” https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d35b7cde-202c4ffb-8e35-5af67dad5a5b.jpg Harwood-Bellis on advice from City boss Pep Guardiola “He told me the manager has to be right and the club has to be right for me as it’s a big part of my career.

“It’s the next stage and where I want to be so when a club like this comes knocking, it was the right step for what City wanted, for what I wanted, and for what Burnley wanted.”

Harwood-Bellis on his previous Championship experience “I had two spells in the Championship, and I love the league. I feel like I’m quite experienced in it. Obviously I’ve got more to learn and

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to improve on, but I feel I’m experienced in terms of knowing the league quite well.

“It’s quick and it’s relentless, but that’s exactly why I wanted to come here. It’s a great league and I personally love it. It’s my ambition to get out of this league at the top with a club like Burnley. This is a good year for me to go and do that.

“I feel like I’m in a good stage to be at a team that’s going to be fighting to get promoted.”

Harwood-Bellis on the Clarets’ recent signings including CJ Egan-Riley “I’ve seen the signings coming in and they’re good signings. They’re players that are doing well in their careers who are young and hungry just like me. There’s a good mix of players and I can’t wait to get going.

“I saw [CJ] before and it was good to see him.

I went to school with CJ and I know him really well. He’s a class player and a class person, the type of person you want around the dressing room and that you want on the pitch with you with his quality.

“It’ll be good to work with him and it’s good for me to have a familiar face there. We can bring youth to the squad because we’re both young and we’re both hungry. We like to

think that we’ve got a little bit of quality from the training we’ve had and the coaching we’ve had too.

“Hopefully we can bring that to the team but we’ll definitely bring a lot of hunger and desire to it as well.”

WEGHORST DEPARTS BURNLEY

Striker joins Turkish side on season-loan Burnley Football Club can confirm that Wout Weghorst has today completed a season-long loan to Beşiktaş.

The 29-year-old has joined the Turkish Süper Lig side for the 2022/23 season after joining Burnley earlier this year from VfL Wolfsburg on a permanent contract.

The Dutch striker scored two goals in 20 league appearances for the Clarets.

The Club would like to wish Wout well for his loan spell at Beşiktaş.

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HARWOOD-BELLIS RELISHING CLARETS MOVE Centre-back ready for loan switch at Turf Moor Defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis became Vincent Kompany's fourth signing of the summer transfer window on Friday evening.

The 20-year-old discusses the upcoming 2022/23 campaign after penning a seasonlong-loan deal from Manchester City.

Harwood-Bellis on getting the deal done: “I’m buzzing with it. I obviously knew about it for a while, so I’m happy to get it all done, all the medical stuff done, and to get it all sorted.

“I feel like this will hopefully be the best season that I’ll have in the Championship with all the experience I’ve got and I’m looking forward to a good season. Hopefully it’s one with lots of success.

“I can’t wait to be at Turf Moor with the kit on and to express myself, and how much I love football. I want to win with the club and the fans, and I’m hoping to be well received by them.

“I want to play with the ball. I’m hungry to defend and I’ll do everything I can to keep the ball out the net.” https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ fd94e705-d51b-428b-a3a4-76a63581f3c4.jpg Harwood-Bellis on linking up with Vincent Kompany again “I worked with him at Anderlecht for the

continued overleaf......

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