Wirral Life April 2017

WIRRAL LIFE

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WIRRAL’S No.1 FREE PREMIUM LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE APRIL 2017

LEGEND JOHN BARNES

PROPERTY • MOTORS • FASHION & BEAUTY • FOOD & DRINK

The ultimate relaxing music mix

Porsche recommends

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Courage changes everything.

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WIRRAL LIFE

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WIRRAL’S No.1 FREE PREMIUM LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Welcome to Wirral Life Magazine.

Firstly our thoughts go to the people, residents and businesses affected by the recent explosion in New Ferry and Port Sunlight.

Through this extremely difficult time, which may continue for some months ahead, the community spirit shown has been remarkable.

Wirral Life offer our support to help in any way possible - please get in touch.

This month, we have an interview with Wirral resident and legend John Barnes who talks to us about his family, career, ambitions and his role as Ambassador for Wirral’s Youth Project - The Hive. In a fascinating feature by Rob Fennah, we find out more about John Lennon’s missing banjo and local resident Andrew Wood takes us back to the middle stone ages with Mesolithic Wirral.

We also talk beauty aesthetics with Wirral Doctors, Ian Jones and Sally-Ann Dolan who share with us the latest treatments; and if your house hunting - check out our Editor choice of properties!

Finally, a special thank you to Lamborghini Manchester for looking after us at the Geneva Motorshow.

EDITORS

Si Hall Nicky Rigby-Smith FEATURE WRITERS Andrew Collinge: Hair Lynne Hague: Lifestyle David Green: Whisky Carl Housbey: Food Tony Yates: Cars Joel Jelen: Wellbeing Stephen Muff: The Butchers Cut Tom Atkinson: Golf Club Pro Swasie Turner: Off the Cuff Tim Sibthorp: Wine Andrew Wood: History Conor McGee: Medical David Gidman: Cars Norman Shum: Cars and Coffee FRONT COVER Creative Direction: Si Hall Shot: Mel Hamid (on a Leica TL) OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER:

Enjoy Wirral Life!

Si Hall & Nicky Rigby-Smith

JOIN WIRRAL LIFE FIND US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/wirrallifemagazine FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @wirrallifemag SUBSCRIBE AT www.wirrallife.com

Copyright Hall Smith Publishing 2017. All Rights Reserved. The content of the magazine is owned by the publisher. No part of this publication may be reproduced - in whole or in part, including advertisements - without prior written permission from the publisher. While we take every care whilst compiling the magazine, we cannot be held responsible for claims made, or accuracy of content provided by advertisers or contributors. All prices and dates within the magazine were correct at the time of print. The editor reserves the right to shorten or modify any materials submitted. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily held by the editor or publisher.

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CONTACT US TEL: 0151 363 6403 GENERAL ENQUIRIES hello@wirrallife.com ADVERTISING advertising@wirrallife.com EDITORIAL editorial@wirrallife.com REVIEWS reviews@wirrallife.com

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IN THIS ISSUE

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20 65 72 51

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INTERVIEWS 16. John Barnes 54. Ian Jones & Sally-Ann Dolan

FASHION & BEAUTY 58. Bridal Hair 65. Swimwear 17

FEATURES 20. Lennon’s Banjo 24. Mesolithic Wirral

TRAVEL 72. Northern Ireland

FOOD & DRINK 29. The Wine Connoisseur 32. The Butchers Cut 34. Restaurant Review 36. Gastro Grazer PROPERTY 42. Editor Choice Properties 51. Sofa Inspiration

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SOCIETY 75. Hot & Happening SPORT 82. Golf Masterclass MUSIC, ARTS & CULTURE 86. Photo Competition MOTOR 94. Geneva Motorshow 96. Range Rover Evoque

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IN BRIEF VILLAGE RALLIES AROUND RESIDENTS OF NEW FERRY AND PORT SUNLIGHT FOLLOWING EXPLOSION

GENEROSITY OF WIRRAL PEOPLE HELPING THURSTASTON COMMON

Port Sunlight Village Trust staff have been working tirelessly alongside local contractors and Wirral Council, to ensure the welfare of village residents in securing properties damaged by the recent blast.

At least four tenanted homes have been very badly affected in Port Sunlight, with more than 35 tenanted properties suffering damages to doors, roofs and windows. The Trust are working with all properties including owner-occupiers in Port Sunlight and residents of New Ferry to put the appropriate next steps in place.

Paul Harris, Chief Executive of Port Sunlight Village Trust, commented: “Firstly, our thoughts are with the residents of New Ferry and Port Sunlight following the explosion, especially those who have been injured or suffered damage to their homes. The events of the weekend have shocked us all; however our communities have shown great resilience and community spirit. Over the coming weeks, once the police have completed their investigation and the site has been made safe, a full assessment of all damaged buildings will be carried out and repair work will begin. In some cases, this work will take several months to complete and we are working with Wirral Council to ensure all affected residents are suitably accommodated.”

The Trust have also assisted with setting up a storage venue in Port Sunlight to cope with the huge volume of donations after an overwhelming response from the community.

For more information and advice from the trust, please visit: www.portsunlightvillage.com.

13TH WIRRAL FOLK FESTIVAL The 13th Wirral Folk Festival of music, dance and poetry will again be held this year at The Whitby Club, Ellesmere Port from Thursday 1st to Sunday 4th June.

With full wheelchair access, the festival is all-on-one-site and is recognised as one of the very best in the country. It attracts folk and acoustic music and dance enthusiasts from all parts of the United Kingdom, including Europe. It all starts on the evening of Thursday 1st June with a free admission Open Mic night of music entitled ‘Sing in the Festival’ with the hosts being the organisers of the Hungry Horse Folk Club and their band Vocal Point. As in previous years, the main festival attractions will be five large concerts that will take place in the main concert hall on the Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and evening and Sunday afternoon and evening.

For full information, visit the website www.wirralfolkonthecoast.com 6 wirrallife.com

Photo Credit: Philip Neagle, Ranger at Cheshire and Wirral Countryside at the National Trust

In June 2016, Karl Tatler Estate Agents & Lettings began their bag for life campaign with the National Trust to help protect one of Wirral’s most iconic wild places, Thurstaston Common.

Karl Tatler have since been encouraging the Wirral public to make a suggested donation of £1 in exchange for an environmentally friendly Karl Tatler bag for life and over £450 has been donated to date, making a tangible difference to the Thurstaston Common heathlands.

Jon Twigg, National Trust Cheshire and Wirral Countryside Area Ranger, said “Wirral people have hearts of gold and they have proved it once again through their generosity towards Thurstaston Common. We’re so grateful for their support and are already using their donations to ensure more people can enjoy this special place.”

The generous donations of the Wirral public through the Karl Tatler bag for life scheme has helped create new paths through particularly boggy areas of Thurstaston Common, and a new 30 metre section of all-weather disabled access path. Phil Neagle, National Trust Ranger, explains. “The path is already being used by visitors with motorised wheelchairs and mobility scooters and they’re thrilled with it as it allows them to access a much larger area of the site, and to bypass a particularly steep muddy bank.

All visitors will benefit from better paths, but this has removed a major barrier to people with disabilities who can now more fully enjoy this special place and its wildlife.”

To pick up your own Karl Tatler bag for life simply call in to your local Karl Tatler branch, make a donation and collect your environmentally friendly Karl Tatler bag for life. Every £1 raised enables approximately five centimetres of path to be created – it would be wonderful to raise enough money to continue to extend and improve the path network at Thurstaston Common over the coming years.

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RARE GIRAFFE CALF IS BORN AT CHESTER ZOO

A BICYCLE MADE FOR TWO

A Cheshire woman and her friend from County Durham are aiming to cycle the length of Britain this summer – on a bicycle made for two.

CCTV cameras at Chester Zoo have captured the beautiful moment a rare Rothschild’s giraffe calf is born – including its first adorable wobbly steps.

The five-foot-tall youngster, which is yet to be sexed or named, arrived at 15:20 on Monday (April 3) to eight-year-old mum Orla. Zookeepers say that Orla delivered her youngster smoothly following a four-hour labour; bringing an end to her 15-month pregnancy.

Sarah Roffe, giraffe team manager, said: “Orla went into labour at around noon and, for a little while, we could just see two spindly legs poking out. She’s an experienced mum and a few hours later she delivered the calf safely onto soft straw as the rest of the herd, including her other young Kidepo and Millie, looked on. Although it might be quite a drop, and they may fall to the ground with a bit of a thud, it’s how giraffe calves arrive into the world and it stimulates them into taking their first breaths. That whole process, from a calf being born to it taking its very first steps, is an incredibly special thing to see. Those long legs take a little bit of getting used to but the new calf is doing ever so well, as is mum. She’s an excellent parent and is doing a fantastic job of nursing her new arrival. The world may be waiting for April the giraffe to have her calf over in America, but Orla has beaten her to it!”

The calf is the second Rothschild’s giraffe to be born at the zoo in the space of just four months, following the arrival of male Murchison on Boxing Day. Conservationists at the zoo hope that both arrivals will help to throw a spotlight on the plight of the endangered species and the different threats it faces in the wild. Rothschild’s giraffes are one of the world’s rarest mammals and recent estimates suggest that less than 1,600 remain.

Debbie Edge from Oakmere, Cheshire who also works as part of the Edge Family in the famous Wirral butchers ‘Edge & Son’, and Suzy Cramb, of Wolsingham, County Durham will undertake the tandem ride from Land’s End to John O’ Groats, raising funds for two charities, the Teenage Cancer Trust and the Ellen Mac Arthur Cancer Trust.

Suzy’s son was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer in 2014. For most of that year he spent 5 days every week in hospital whilst undergoing some of the most aggressive chemotherapy and debilitating operations. Without both of these charities, Suzy is sure that he would not have survived as he has. It is thanks to them that he is as well as could be and currently enjoying university to the full.

Suzy, a mum-of-three who runs her own physiotherapy practice, explained how they first noticed what later turned out to be cancer.

“He showed me a swelling on his leg but said it happened playing football and was nothing to worry about,” she said. “It played on my mind especially when the next day I was on a course for work about adolescent injuries. That same week we took him for an MRI scan to investigate further.”

Suzy and Debbie will be setting off from Land’s End on Wednesday 7 June before arriving at John O’ Groats on Monday 19 June. The pair are inviting any cycling friends to join them in fundraising on the various legs of their challenge. To get involved, search for ‘Tandem LEJOG’ on Facebook and Twitter: @tandemlejog Anyone wishing to show their support and donate can look for ‘Debbie Edge’ or ‘Suzy Cramb’ on Virgin Money Giving: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/tandemlejog wirrallife.com 7

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HOUSE OF FRASER IS COMING TO CHESTER House of Fraser has announced that it has signed an agreement to open an anchor store at the new Chester Northgate retail and leisure complex.

Chester Northgate is the 500,000 sq ft redevelopment of Chester city centre and is one of the most significant city centre developments in the last decade.

The redevelopment will revitalise the city centre providing 70 stores, cafes and restaurants, as well as 70 homes, hotel & conference centre, six-screen cinema and the city’s largest car park.

This development, spearheaded by Cheshire West and Chester Council, will offer a full suite of experiences to locals and Chester’s millions of yearly visitors and will drive more visitors and shoppers into Chester. Construction of the development will commence in late 2018, targeting an opening of all three phases by 2021.

The new department store, with approx. 100,000 sq ft of retail space over three floors, will offer customers a premium shopping environment and bring desirable brands and fashion labels to the region. The store is designed to a high specification to accommodate a multichannel, modern experience-led retail offering through elements of the build such as a large health and beauty department, which is twice the size of traditional beauty departments, and a premium rooftop restaurant with views over Chester’s historic racecourse.

Chester Northgate will be House of Fraser’s second major UK store opening, Frank Slevin, Executive Chairman of House of Fraser, said: “We are very pleased to announce that we have signed an agreement to open an anchor store at Chester Northgate. Chester is an exciting location for us, being at the centre of a thriving regional economy.

With its modern design, Chester Northgate will rejuvenate Chester city centre attracting more visitors and creating a dynamic retail environment.”

8TH WIRRAL OPEN STUDIOS TOUR 2017 This June, Wirral will once again throw open its studio doors for its 8th annual Wirral Open Studios Tour (WOST) - so individuals can visit a wide range of talented local professional and semi-professional artists showcasing their work.

If you fancy a weekend of mooching through artists’ studios, homes, gardens and exhibition spaces to see, chat and engage with; painters, photographers, printmakers, potters, glass designers, illustrators and textile artists, then this is a definite date for your diary.

In turn, the informal and relaxing setting of the event will allow visitors to understand artists’ inspirations and creative techniques, share in their passion for creative arts and help celebrate this popular culturefilled Wirral weekend.

To download a map and plan your tour route around the exhibiting artists visit: www.wirralart.com

VOTING OPENS TO FIND CHESHIRE’S YOUNG X FACTOR ARTISTS An online public vote to find Cheshire’s best young artists has opened. More than 300 pupils from 20 Cheshire schools have entered the dot-art Schools competition and are hoping for your votes to see their artwork on display in a public exhibition later this spring.

View the shortlist and vote online for the work at http://cheshire. schools.dot-art.com/vote. Voting closes at midnight on Friday 5th May.

PORT SUNLIGHT VILLAGE TRUST HOSTS SPECIAL EXHIBITION CURATED BY UNILEVER AT PORT SUNLIGHT MUSEUM Port Sunlight Museum this week has launched its newest exhibition which explores Unilever’s brands over the last 100 years, from the company’s early days as Lever Brothers, through to present day.

knowledge to the test by seeing what adverts they remember from a selection of original TV commercials.

Curated from Unilever’s own archive collections, the displays delve into the foundation and development of Unilever, product innovation and what is made behind the factory wall in Port Sunlight today.

An exciting programme of talks, tours, family activities, and workshops will accompany the exhibition throughout 2017. The special exhibition is open to the public until March 2018.

Visitors can enjoy an interactive global shop called ‘Your Unilever’ showcasing just a few of the 400 much loved brands, and put their

Visit www.portsunlightvillage.com for more information.

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The exhibition features a selection of original packaging from some of Unilever’s biggest brands, film clips and an interactive quiz.

CLICK & COLLECT ORDER ONLINE AND COLLECT YOUR ITEMS INSTORE AT BIDSTON MOSS, BROMBOROUGH, BIRKENHEAD AND HESWALL. MARKSANDSPENCER.COM

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LEASOWE CASTLE UNVEILS IMPRESSIVE £3 MILLION REBRAND & REFURBISHMENT Leasowe Castle has unveiled its brand new look as part of an impressive £3 million rebrand and refurbishment.

The changes reflect the historic 16th century Wirral based castle’s rich and colourful heritage, whilst paying homage to the area’s iconic resident rare bird breed, the oystercatcher.

In order to preserve the venue’s authentic charm together with adding a modern-day twist, a series of interior revamps have been carried out throughout the property’s 47 bedrooms, inhouse restaurant Brasserie 1593 and Knights Cocktail Bar. General Manager of Leasowe Castle Mike Dewey said: “Unlike the follies spanning across the North West, what sets Leasowe Castle apart is its authenticity and historic presence. To ensure that the property stays true to its roots, the new branding simply enhances what we are all about in an emotive and symbolic manner. For instance, the ‘so’ from our name is being used as part of the descriptive tone of voice when building a narrative across our marketing materials. As Wirral Peninsula is a spectacular melting pot of amazing vistas, incredible heritage and rare wild bird species, the branding also embodies the oystercatcher to set the tone of our enchanting nature rich, tranquil seafront setting. In addition to the new look branding, the castle’s interior has been transformed to create an inviting and accessible space for residents and those visiting for the day or night. Combining an earthy colour palate with exposed 10 wirrallife.com

wood, multiple textures and a grand costal visage, each of the designated areas and rooms have their own distinctive characteristics and atmosphere. As part of the developments, our core focus will now put an increased emphasis on being a glorious destination for dining and drinking, private occasions and corporate events.”

The completion of the rebrand and refurbishment follows a series of on-going company developments since the castle was acquired by Bupa Gandhi in May 2015. In addition to recently appointing renowned North West hotelier Mike Dewey as general manager, the property’s overhaul aims to boost Wirral’s thriving visitor economy.

Bupa added: “After careful consideration, we have shaped a unique brand persona that talks directly to our guests whether they be staying with us, calling in for dinner, unwinding with after-work drinks, creating their very own fairy-tale wedding, hosting a corporate occasion with a difference or de-stressing with a round of golf. Our new holistic approach will certainly provide an experience that is so relaxing, so captivating and ultimately so memorable. It is a real joy to have witnessed ideas become reality and to now unveil them to the public.

As a property that has stood proudly on the Wirral Peninsula since 1593, it was important that the branding and revamp complimented the castle’s lasting legacy that is so very known and respected on both a local and national scale.”

OFF THE

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BY SWASIE TURNER, MBE

‘AMBASSADORIAL’ CHILDREN CAN CERTAINLY TEACH ADULTS ABOUT DISABILITY AWARENESS Like the rest of us, when I was a fully able bodied person, I just took life for granted as I pottered along through my daily life and routines.

However, due to an horrific act of gratuitous violence as I performed my police duties out on the angry streets, I was suddenly and traumatically transformed into living life on the seat of my pants in a wheelchair. Oh how life became so utterly different. What a completely different scenario lay before me.

Many friends, even some relatives appeared in a totally different light. I found that many people were not quite as kind and considerate as they once were. I found that simple things were now difficult things. Mounting pavements, entering narrow doorways and negotiating my way through shops and restaurants were sometimes nigh impossible. Using public toilets now became an embarrassment if there were no ‘disabled’ toilets available. Even when I did manage to find one, my entry was thwarted because I didn’t possess a ‘Radar’ key! I couldn’t believe just how much my life would have to change to overcome the adversity I was starting to experience. I started to find that people were sometimes extremely rude and insensitive. Having spent a lifetime in the gym and indulging in martial arts, boxing and weightlifting, I was thankfully blessed with reasonably strong arms and upper body strength. This would prove invaluable when I had to propel my 47lb NHS issue casterd wheelchair out and about after attempts to enlist the aid of prosthesis were unsuccessful. The slightest of inclines emphasised how much effort was needed to successfully overcome them. I was amazed to find that pushing across carpets too illustrated just how wheelchair ‘unfriendly’ they were, the deeper the pile the more the casters would show their ‘dissent’.

As I gradually overcame or ‘came to terms’ with the various forms of adversity I realised that there were others who were maybe not as strong or were having much more difficulty than I was so I started to ‘fight their corner’. Whenever I came across something which I considered to be blatantly wheelchair unfriendly or a detriment to those suffering any form of physical (or mental) difficulty or disability, I would inform and even harass if necessary, the appropriate bodies or authorities, to rectify or eliminate whatever the problem was.

This I continue to do with unabated zeal and initiative, even to the point of being a ‘boat rocker’ or ‘loose cannon’, I care not which, so long as long as I can bring about rectification of a problem suffered by those with a disability .

I have complained bitterly to shop owners, canal authorities and local councils if and when I think my critique is justified to bring about the elimination of problems or physical obstructions which inhibit the disabled fraternity. Many times

I have invoked the wrath of café owners because there is no room for people in wheelchairs to get to toilets or even make to tables. One pregnant lady wheelchair user was asked by an extremely offensive woman, “What is it you are expecting”? and then added, “…are you sure it will be alright”?

I too was once stopped by an equally ignorant and insensitive moron and asked, “Oh dear what have you been doing”? The man then instructed his little boy to say hello to the funny man! Also, it is always the case when people meet those in wheelchairs and wish to enquire about them, they always ask whoever is accompanying them, never the person in the wheelchair, “How is he today?” “What’s her name?” “Isn’t he cold?” Or, the alternative is to shout at the person, assuming they will understand better? This is not only grossly offensive; it is also extremely frustrating and humiliating.

However, there is another side to this type of obnoxious behaviour. A much more kind and considerate side. Where does this come from you may ask? Well, amazingly, it comes from the younger generations, children and young people, especially those in our schools. I have found that the youngsters’ interpretation of disability awareness far exceeds that of adults. At no time have I ever been shown discourtesy or lack of consideration during my involvement with them and their schools, and I have now spoken to over 20,500 pupils and students. I have found that youngsters are an asset to their generation, parents and schools. I would love to name each of the schools but (I am however pleased to say) there are too many.

My visits to various schools, colleges and academies entail me visiting infant and junior schools as well as numerous colleges to give illustrated renditions of my worldwide fundraising endeavours as I overcome the various adversities of being a disabled person. I have taken part in classroom activities with the youngsters at venues where they have successfully integrated children with various forms of mental or physical difficulties among the mainstream ranks. The success has been phenomenal. I sincerely hope that this caring and considerate younger generation can bring about the education to the adult population which will eventually eliminate the ‘Does he take sugar’ syndrome that still prevails. It is hoped this will eradicate the still ongoing selfish and inconsiderate conduct and behaviour of many, and bring about the disability Awareness which will then ensure that the disabled fraternity will be able to get out and about without having to negotiate dangerous and preventive obstacles in public places. Most of which have obviously been created, constructed and installed by the able bodied people among the various authorities.

Swasie Turner, MBE wirrallife.com 11

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BUILDING WIRRAL’S FUTURE A ‘HIVE’ OF ACTIVITY After years of hard work from national charity OnSide Youth Zones shaking hands with Wirral Council, the spade hitting the ground back in December 2015, to the dramatic countdown of building milestones, Wirral Youth Zone has come a long way.

OnSide Youth Zones, the national umbrella charity whose aim is to build a network of 21st Century Youth Clubs, giving young people, safe and inspiring places to go in their leisure time were the driving force behind Wirral’s £6m Youth Zone in Bright Street, Birkenhead. It all started to take shape back in 2012 with a commitment from Wirral Council to build an OnSide Youth Zone in Wirral. That was followed by a meeting with OnSide representatives, Wirral Council and John Syvret CBE – the Chief Executive of Cammell Laird - at Wallasey Town Hall in October 2013. The idea was to approach John to Chair the project – one which we all know he grasped with both hands.

Identifying a site for the build of the Youth Zone was the next key challenge. As with any OnSide Youth Zone, it must be accessible by public transport and centrally located within an area of deprivation in terms of opportunities available young people. A site was 62 wirrallife.com 12

found and agreed next to the fire station in the centre of Birkenhead in which the Fire Service generously donated part of their land to work in partnership to build the OnSide Youth Zone.

OnSide’s Youth Work team then recruited a ‘Young People’s Development Group’ who were made up of young people from partnering youth organisations across Wirral.

This group worked to engage with over 300 young people in creating ‘The Hive’ as the official name for Wirral Youth Zone. The young people believed that ‘The Hive’ would represent a ‘hive’ of activity within Wirral and this group of young ambassadors for the project would grow and go on to play a key role in everything from, the design and colour scheme of their Youth Zone to even interviewing staff members and performing a rap video with football legend John Barnes!

Once all the planning applications had been agreed with Wirral Council back in July 2015 and the architects designs were approved (with young people of course) the £6m capital funding was confirmed. Funding from Wirral Council, Bibby Line Group, The Johnson Foundation, Lord Leverhulme’s Charitable Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, UBS, Linbury Trust, OnSide, The Queen’s

Trust, St James’s Place Foundation, Holroyd Foundation, Wirral Borough Council, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and support from the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) NHS Trust meant the Youth Zone build could begin. To mark the occasion the world’s biggest spade plunged into the ground!

OnSide then worked with John Syvret to form a Youth Zone board. A key member of the Youth Zone board is Peter Bibby – the man behind Birkenhead Youth Club, a neighbouring, fantastic youth facility up the road from Wirral Youth Zone. The Hive’s opening times were agreed in close working partnership with Birkenhead Youth Club, to add to the overall offer for young people in Wirral.

Stuart Barnes was recruited as the Chief Executive of Wirral Youth Zone – now its own independent charity.

During this key time, whilst the build was underway, John Syvret’s experience in the Wirral business community as well as the expertise of Stuart and the OnSide Youth Zones team enabled the sign up 20 Founder Patron’s which will ensure the Youth Zone’s revenue costs are funded for the first three years of opening.

The Hive will cost £1million per year to run and this will be funded through a combination of public sector and private sector funding. Local businesses and individuals have backed the project with the likes of Urenco UK, Boulting Group, Shirley and John Syvret, The Contact Company, Selwyn-Lloyd Charitable Trust, Cammell Laird, The Bibby Family, Hill Dickinson, Peel, Edward Billington & Son Ltd, Anne Duchess of Westminster’s Charity,

B&M Waste Services, Andrew Collinge Hairdressing, Park Group, West Wallasey Car Hire, the Barton Family, Progress to Excellence, Russell Taylor Group, Hugh and Cathy Frost, as well as anonymous supporters all throwing their weight behind Wirral’s new Youth Zone.

Liverpool and England legend John Barnes even signed up to become a Youth Zone ambassador – not a bad role model for local young people! For more information about helping young people by becoming a founder patron please contact: Kate Thomas on kate.thomas@ thehiveyouthzone.org.

A further 50 full time staff were recruited followed by 100 volunteers to make sure The Hive offers the BEST service for young people. Wirral Youth Zone offers a multitude of facilities from a 4G football pitch, music room, recording studio, arts and crafts areas, health and well-being rooms, boxing gym, fitness suite, dance studio and employability and mentoring programmes. It will help raise the aspirations, improve health and wellbeing and enhance the prospects of an anticipated membership of over 3,000 young people across Wirral. In fact over 1000 have already signed up as members! The Youth Zone will be open for young people aged 8-19 and up to 25 with a disability when schools are not. Membership costs £5 per year and 50p per session and young people can sign up now by visiting www.thehiveyouthzone.org/new-member.

The Hive, Wirral Youth Zone, buzzing with a ‘hive’ of activity, opened on Saturday April 8th and now provides 21st century youth provision 7 days per week.

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Prenton Preparatory School Boys & Girls aged 2 years 6 months - 11 years • • • • • • • •

Traditional teaching Small classes Dedicated and highly experienced staff High academic standard and excellent results at 11+ A firm but fair discipline Various clubs and sporting activities Pre and after school care Nursery grant available for 3 & 4 year olds

“A step by step approach to educating the whole child”

PRENTON PREPARATORY SCHOOL MOUNT PLEASANT, OXTON, WIRRAL, CH43 5SY

0151 652 3182

enquiry@prentonprep.co.uk

Accredited by the Independent Schools Council

Happiness and Confidence OPEN DAY Please register online

Saturday 6th May 11am - 2pm

Girls and Boys 3 months to 18 years Birkenhead School, 58 Beresford Road, Oxton, Wirral, CH43 2JD

birkenheadschool.co.uk

Our small class sizes and life-enriching opportunities inside and outside the classroom enable our pupils to become confident, happy and ambitious young adults.

THE INTERVIEW: JOHN BARNES

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Wirral resident, English former footballer, rapper and manager John Barnes MBE talks to Wirral Life in an exclusive interview about his family, career, ambitions and his role as Ambassador for Wirral’s Youth Project - The Hive.

You had an interesting start in life. Born in Jamaica, to Roderick Kenrick “Ken” Barnes - a Trinidadian and Frances Jeanne Hill - a Jamaican. You spent your early childhood living in Jamaica’s biggest military base where you would play football and live a very disciplined life (John’s father served in the West India Regiment and later the Jamaica Defence Force after Jamaica’s independence). Your father was heavily interested in sport and was president of the Jamaica Amateur Swimming Association and formed Jamaica’s first bobsleigh team - later immortalised by the movie ‘Cool Runnings’. He was a huge football fan who named you after legendary Welsh footballer John Charles.

When your father was promoted to Colonel and appointed Defence adviser to the High Commission of Jamaica in London, you moved to the UK in 1976 when you were 12 years old.

What are your prominent memories of your early days in England?

My earliest memories in London were spent playing football for Stowe boys club in Paddington and exploring London as a 13 year old with my new mates.

You had incredible success with Watford in the early days, but what was it like when you landed at The Kop? Watford was fantastic and a great learning curve for me to be with Graham Taylor who taught me so much about humility, desire, discipline etc... but it was like going to the next level when I signed for Liverpool football wise, and from the first day of pre-season, well before the season started, that it felt like I came home and it fell into place with myself, Peter Beardsley, Ray Houghton and Aldo. All new players have an almost telepathic relationship.

You’ve had some surprising chart success as a rapper - a No.1 with New Order’s World In Motion (their only No.1) and a No.3 with Anfield Rap. Amazingly you had to cast against Steve McMahon, Des Walker, Peter Beardsley, Gazza and Chris ‘Diamond Lights’ Waddle in a rap-off for the gig.

Did you ever consider having a dabble in the musical arena?

The rap was written by Keith Allen and I’ve always loved rap music since I was a kid. I’m a decent rapper (not singer) but I don’t write my own lyrics, just copy others so no I’ve never thought about going into the business!

Who is the current most underrated player in LFC? Lucas has come through some difficult times at Anfield to show his true worth whenever called upon in any position.

Who was your favourite manager?

My favourites are Graham Taylor, Kenny Dalglish and Bobby Robson. They all have different styles, different strengths but are all very good.

Do you believe the ‘Kick It Out’ campaign is effective?

‘Kick it Out’ is doing all it can to combat racism but as I’ve said all along, it’s a problem in society first and football second, so until there are bigger efforts to get rid of it in society, it will remain in all facets of society of which football is but one.

Do you still have any desire to manage?

I would love to manage a club at any level but opportunities are few and far between.

Who were your heroes as a kid?

My father was and still is (although he passed away a few years ago) my biggest hero and most influential person in my life.

wirrallife.com 17

Who is your favourite player of all time and have you ever met him?

Diego Maradona is my favourite player of all time and yes I have met him a few times.... lunatic... but I love him as a player.

Do you think Liverpool would have won the European cup in the late 80’s if English teams weren’t banned?

We will never know if my Liverpool team of the late 80’s would have won a European cup because the great AC Milan team of that period were also very good - but I’d like to think so and I’m sure we could have come very close!

Outside of LFC, who were your most admired players during your day and who do you have your eye on these days?

The players I admired in my early professional days were Glenn Hoddle for his technical ability (the best English player ever in my opinion from a technical perspective) and Bryan Robson for his drive determination and leadership and of course Rush and Dalglish!

You are an ambassador for The Hive - the excellent new Wirral Youth Zone in Birkenhead, how did you become involved?

Being a father of 7 and realising what my children have achieved (two doctors, one banker and a daughter just finishing her degree at Liverpool John Moores University in Criminology) has in no small way been down to the opportunities afforded to them. I know that most children can maximise their potential if the right environment can be created for them. When I heard about The Hive and saw what they did and what they provide for mainly underprivileged and disenfranchised children, I had to get more involved - so I jumped at the chance to become an ambassador.

What is your perfect day?

My perfect day is spending time with my whole family wife, 7 kids and 2 grandchildren.

Where is your favourite holiday destination?

My favourite holiday destinations are Jamaica, Dubai, Bali and South Africa.

Everyone can remember your amazing goal against Brazil in 1984, but if not this, what is your best goal for club or country?

My best other goal for England was a chest and half volley at Wembley against Uruguay and for Liverpool, the second goal I scored against QPR in my first season at Anfield.

What’s your favourite car (even if you’ll never own one)?

My favourite car is any 7 seater where all the kids can fit.

We’ve conducted our own poll and after ‘King’ Kenny Dalglish, you’ve been voted ‘the best LFC player’ by our generation. You’re regarded in the highest order, Sir Alec Ferguson expressed regret at not signing you. John Aldridge said in his autobiography that ‘Bobby Robson stated that you were as good as George Best at his peak’ and even a young Jamie Carragher talking about when you were 34 said “Technically, he’s the best player I’ve ever trained or played with, he was great with both feet, they were both exactly the same. I’d say he’s the best finisher I’ve ever played with (including Torres, Fowler and Owen). High praise indeed. What are your feelings on fame and fan adoration?

Fame means absolutely nothing to me, in a team sport like football appreciating your teammates and what they’ve done to help you be the player you are is the most important thing. When I won my first PFA player of the year, the most pleasing thing for me was that six of my teammates were in the team of the year and it’s always nice to be appreciated by the fans.

What’s your favourite food?

My favourite foods are Indian, Thai and Chinese.

18 wirrallife.com

What’s your favourite film?

My favourite films are True Romance with Christian Slater and Memento with Guy Pearce.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

My guilty pleasures are KFC and McDonald’s.

What would you say are your 3 defining moments?

I’m defined by my love and commitment to my family.

If you could replay your life, what would you change or do differently?

I wouldn’t change anything of my past. I’ve regretted many things and wish I hadn’t done them, but to get you where you are today, it’s necessary to have gone through everything in your past to grow. So if you’re happy with where you are now, don’t risk going back in time to change things because in changing your destiny you may end up in a worse place than you are today.

Looking to the future, what is important to you and what else would you like to achieve?

All I want to achieve is happiness for me and family however that comes!

W L

wirrallife.com 19

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Pictured: John Lennon and his mother Julia

THE HOLY GRAIL OF POP MEMORABILIA WILL IT EVER BE FOUND?

BY ROB FENNAH It is always difficult finding something new to say about the Fab Four; after all, hasn’t everything already been written?

Well no, not quite...

It’s common knowledge the first instrument John Lennon ever learned to play was his mother’s banjo. John gave many a heart-warming account of how his mother, Julia, spent hours teaching him to play Buddy Holly’s classic, That’ll Be The Day, “sitting there with endless patience until I had worked out all the chords.” It was Julia who turned John onto rock ‘n’ roll and actively encouraged him to pursue his musical ambitions much to the disapproval of his Aunt Mimi with whom he lived.

Julia Baird, John’s half-sister, who witnessed their mother teaching him said: “I can see John so clearly, concentrating intently on the mother of pearl backed banjo that belonged to his grandfather, who had brought it back from a sea trip and then left it to our mother.” It’s fair to say, therefore, that without Julia Lennon’s banjo there wouldn’t have been a Beatles and, without them, everything we know today would be different.

So where is the Holy Grail of pop memorabilia? Well that’s what this is all about; shortly after Julia Lennon died in 1958 the banjo went missing and no one has set eyes on it since.

Remarkably, neither John’s family, nor any of the numerous Beatles experts, have been able to shed light on its whereabouts 20 wirrallife.com

or what may have become of it. John never revealed what happened to the priceless relic and it remains the greatest mystery in pop music. However, one thing is certain; if it did resurface, the lucky finder would no longer have to worry about working for a living. In 2000, a Lennon piano went under the hammer at Sotheby’s for £1.5 million which gives some indication as to what the banjo might be worth. Some argue it would fetch millions more, not just because it was the first instrument the greatest rock ‘n’ roll legend learned to play; it was the catalyst that changed the world!

But before we all start searching our attics and cellars, we must first overcome a major problem. Other than being banjoshaped, what does the illusive instrument actually look like?

Does it have any distinguishing marks or features; something to confirm its provenance? There are no photographs of John playing the banjo so how could it be authenticated? Julia Baird’s description does provide us with a couple of important clues; the banjo originated from overseas, circa 1930s, and it had a mother of pearl back. Research suggests this decorative feature only appeared on expensive banjos and helps rule out the notion that it might have been scrapped (beautiful old instruments are seldom destroyed and are kept for their aesthetic and ornamental value). More importantly, a mother of pearl inlay is rare and drastically reduces the list of possibilities by eliminating those banjos that don’t possess it. That said, it

A NEW PLAY TO PREMIERE AT THE EPSTEIN THEATRE ABOUT JOHN LENNON'S MISSING BANJO - THE GREATEST MYSTERY IN POP MUSIC From the writer of the stage play adaptation of Helen Forrester’s ‘Twopence to Cross the Mersey’ comes a brand-new comedy about the disappearance of Lennon’s first musical instrument.

The play is based on the 2012 novel ‘Julia’s Banjo’

by Rob Fennah and Helen A Jones and will mark the 60th anniversary of Julia Lennon’s death and the disappearance of the banjo she taught her son to play.

Produced by Pulse Records Ltd in association with Bill Elms, Lennon’s Banjo will open at Liverpool’s Epstein Theatre on Tuesday 24th April 2018 for a two-week run until Saturday 5th May.

"The very first tune I ever learned to play was 'That'll Be The Day'. My mother Julia taught it to me on the banjo, sitting there with endless patience until I managed to work out all the chords." JOHN LENNON would still leave numerous contenders to choose from and that’s where the search would inevitably grind to a halt. Or would it?

Alright, so John Lennon’s signature might not be emblazoned across it but with today’s forensic technology it would certainly be possible to confirm provenance if John or Julia had left behind, say, a fingerprint or perhaps a strand of hair. Although this idea may seem a little far-fetched, it is not as outlandish as it sounds. Lennon’s Gallotone Champion acoustic guitar was authenticated, prior to its sale at Sotheby’s in 1999, by a drop of his blood! Original Quarrymen member, Rod Davis, recounts: “John took the skin off the edge of his index finger while playing at St Peter’s Parish Féte in Woolton (1957). I remember seeing the bloodstain inside Lennon’s guitar while I was changing one of the strings. When Sotheby’s contacted me about authentication I told them about it and, although faint, the bloodstain was still there.”

The mystery surrounding Lennon’s missing banjo is still relatively unknown but as the news filters out no doubt hundreds will crawl out of the woodwork claiming to possess it. Could it still be out there having been stashed away for safe keeping and then forgotten about? Of course it could; that’s what happens with memorabilia; hey, we’ve all watched the Antiques Roadshow!

So, with that in mind, let’s raise a glass to Julia, John and the banjo that made it all possible. Without them, the world would have been a much quieter place.

Set in present day Liverpool: When Beatles tour guide Barry Seddon finds a letter written

by John Lennon he unearths a clue to the solving the greatest mystery in pop history - the whereabouts of Lennon's first musical instrument which has been missing for 60 years. But Barry's loose tongue alerts Texan dealer, Travis Lawson, to the priceless relic. In an attempt to get his hands on the letter and the clues within he persuades his beautiful wife, Cheryl, to befriend the hapless tour guide and win his affections. The race for the holy grail of pop memorabilia is on!

Co-producer Bill Elms said: “The story is so true to life that the audience will leave the theatre secretly planning their own search for the missing banjo. It's The Beatles meet the Da Vinci Code, an hilarious treasure hunt romp through Beatledom."

Missing for 60 years… The holy grail of pop is now worth millions to whoever finds it!

BOOKING INFORMATION: Lennon’s Banjo, Epstein Theatre Tue 24th April – Sat 5th May 2018 Tickets are now on sale at: www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk, 0844 888 4411 or in person at Hanover Street, Liverpool, L1 3DZ, Mon-Thu 2pm-6pm, Fri & Sat 12pm-6pm www.ticketquarter.co.uk, 0844 8000 410 or in person at Echo Arena Box Office, Kings Dock, Liverpool. wirrallife.com 21

WIRRAL’S BERNICE CELEBRATES HER 101TH BIRTHDAY The son of a Wirral woman celebrating her 101st birthday joked her secret to reaching over a century could be drinking a glass of whisky a day.

When Jack passed away, Bernice continued to live in the family home with only the help of a weekly cleaner and regular visits from her two children.

Stephen Quail also says mum Bernice, a resident at The Hazelwell, a luxury ‘all inclusive’, residential, nursing, palliative and respite care home in Heswall, may have enjoyed a long life because of her positive mental attitude.

Last August, however, Bernice’s granddaughter Emma planned to get married in Portugal and Bernice, who was now 100, was too old to travel to the event. With all family members planning to be at the wedding it was decided that a short stay at The Hazelwell care home would put everyone’s mind at rest knowing that Bernice would be looked after and cared for properly.

Stephen says his mum was a ‘born optimist and never complained’. Bernice has always kept active, playing golf until she was 90. She also drove a car until she was 97.

Originally from Manchester, Bernice moved to Liverpool in her early childhood. Bernice was married twice. Sadly her first husband was killed in World War Two leaving her a widow with three-year-old daughter, Sandra. She subsequently remarried and had a son, Stephen. Her late husband Jack died ten years ago. Bernice has five grandsons and one granddaughter together with seven great-grandchildren, the youngest Wilf who is just five months old.

She lived in Liverpool and worked in the city centre throughout The Blitz and Stephen says has talked of walking to work in the mornings ‘not knowing if her office would still be standing’.

After the war, Bernice and Jack founded Goodway Hampers in the 1950s, a family Christmas Hamper business. Based in Liverpool, the business supplied tens of thousands of Christmas hampers across Merseyside for more than 50 years. The business was so successful it enabled them to build their own house on the Wirral. Bernice retired when she was 65.

22 wirrallife.com

When the family returned, Bernice announced that she wanted to move in to The Hazelwell, which only opened in Oldfield Road last summer, permanently.

Now Bernice has celebrated her 101st birthday which she did with a family lunch at one of her favourite restaurants, the Red Fox in Thornton Hough. When asked about what the secret of Bernice’s long life might be, Stephen said: “Mum has always being active both mentally and physically and I think that has played an important part, as must the regular glass of whisky at 6 o’clock every evening! Mum played golf until she was 90 and drove a car until she was 97 with never a point on her licence! She remains a keen bridge player. Perhaps one of the key factors for her longevity is her positive mental attitude – a born optimist who never complained. Life is always about the present and the future. She never dwells on the past. Mum is genuinely very happy at The Hazelwell care home. She is very appreciative of the care and attention that all the staff gives her and the family has been very impressed too.”

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WWW.THEHAZELWELL.COM T: T: 0151 0151 342 342 9654 9654 WWW.THEHAZELWELL.COM Oldfield Road, Heswall, Wirral CH60 6SG Oldfield Road, Road, Heswall, Heswall, Wirral Wirral CH60 CH60 6SG 6SG Oldfield

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WIRRAL TIME TRAVEL

BY ANDREW WOOD

MESOLITHIC WIRRAL WAS NO LEISURE PENINSULA The Mesolithic, or Middle Stone Age, period of human development occurred at the end of the last Ice Age over 10,000 years ago. It began at the end of the Palaeolithic period and then evolved into the Neolithic period when man began to domesticate plants and animals, and as a result developed from being a hunter-gatherer to living in settled communities.

Until very recently, archaeologists believed that Mesolithic people roamed the forested countryside in small groups, hunting animals and gathering edible plants, roots, nuts and fruit in tune with the seasons. This bucolic image was based primarily on studies of modern peoples who still forage and hunt as a way of life. The latest research, however, casts doubt on this view. Far from having a fairly relaxed way of life, in which they had easy pickings, it seems that our hunter-gatherer ancestors had to work hard for their living. Wirral was no ‘leisure peninsula’ in that period of history!

The landscape of Mesolithic Wirral, and of England as a whole, was wooded. It developed, by about 7,500 years ago, from fairly open woods of pine, birch and hazel into a denser forest of oak, elm, lime and ash. Where trees died, fell and decayed, small glades encouraged the growth of edible plants including blackberries, barberries, sloes, crab-apples, haws and hazelnuts.

Weeds like fat hen, knotgrass, knaw, corn spurry and chickweed could also be eaten. Mammals included deer and auroch (wild cattle, now extinct), elk, wild boar, badgers, hedgehogs, various wild cats and smaller mammals like shrews. The Dee, the Mersey and the sea offered a rich and varied diet from fish to molluscs. Dogs, used for hunting, were the only domesticated animals. There is evidence that Mesolithic groups periodically burned some woodland deliberately to create clearings, probably to provide ‘killing grounds’ for animals rather than to sow edible plants.

In the south, the English Channel was not formed until about 6500 BCE. For 2,000 years before that, the main routes for people moving from the Eurasian landmass were in the east and south of England. These immigrants were all hunter-gatherers following a nomadic lifestyle.

Traditionally, the story of early Britain has been understood as waves of invaders displacing or annihilating the previous inhabitants. Archaeology, however, suggests that this is fundamentally mistaken. For more than 10,000 years people have moved into – and out of – Britain, sometimes in large numbers, sometimes in small groups, but there has always 24 wirrallife.com

been a basic continuity of population. The earliest human settlement yet found on Merseyside was located in fields at Greasby. It dates from approximately 7000 BCE and was excavated, between 1987 and 1990, by archaeologists from National Museums on Merseyside. The site was discovered by fieldwalking: prehistoric sites can be identified when worked flint tools and pottery are brought to the surface by modern deep ploughing. These are the most frequently found and reliable indicators, because stone tools are very durable and so more likely to survive.

The Greasby site has provided evidence of the mobility of the family, or several families of hunter-gatherers who once lived there. The principal evidence is that nearly all of the stone tools are made of chert, the nearest source of which is in North Wales. It is likely that these people spent part of the year in North Wales. The sea-level at that time was much lower than it is today, so it would have been easier for them to cross the River Dee. Like flint, chert is a silicate, made up of silicon and oxygen.

Both flint and chert are aggregates of microscopic crystals of quartz, found in calcareous sedimentary rocks. Chert, however, is inferior to flint for knapping. It was rarely used for making cutting tools, though flake knives are found occasionally.

Large pieces of chert were often used instead of flint to form scrapers and piercing tools. It was frequently used – as it was at Greasby – as an alternative to flint for microliths (arrowheads).

In the British Isles, flint occurs in chalk, and chert occurs in carboniferous limestone. The area nearest to Greasby from which chert can be obtained is the band of carboniferous limestone that lies immediately south of the millstone grit hills which run parallel to the River Dee on the Welsh side.

What the archaeologists discovered at Greasby was a hearth or fireplace, and a number of pits, which may initially have been used for storing food but had later been filled with rubbish.

Some burnt hazelnuts were found in the vicinity of the hearth.

At the bottom of one pit, hidden under a layer of pebbles, they found a collection of roughly shaped pieces of flint, ready to be worked into arrowheads. There were various stone tools that could have been used for preparing food, working bone or wood, or for hunting. A small area in which flakes of flint were found was probably where a specialist flint knapper made spear- and arrowheads for hunting and scrapers for removing hair and skin from prey. The group’s shelters would probably have resembled ‘benders’ made of animal skins stretched over a framework of pliable branches. All the evidence suggested that

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the group may have sometimes stayed at the site for months at a time. There are many such sites on a low sandstone ridge in Greasby, but this is the only one that has been excavated.

Palaeolithic hunter-gatherer groups probably returned frequently to this same area over hundreds of years. A few miles away, at Thurstaston, an even denser concentration of stone tools has been found, representing another important site of the period. The site at Greasby – and possibly the one at Thurstaston – was probably a base camp: the group would have had a number of less elaborate camps around Wirral and in North Wales that would have been used overnight by hunters, and for killing and butchering animals.

Throughout prehistory there was a large variety and number of small-scale societies, and many minor 'tribal' identities, typically lasting perhaps no more than a few generations before splitting, merging or being obliterated. The group that lived for part of each year at the Greasby site was just one of many. These groups would have been in contact – and sometimes in conflict – with their neighbours, and sometimes with more distant groups, as evidenced by finds of imported objects. The period from the arrival of the earliest modern humans to the beginning of recorded history is about 10,000 years, or 400 generations. Yet we know very little about what went on through this long span of time; it is hard even to answer in detail the question, 'Who were the early inhabitants of Wirral?' because they have left no accounts of themselves.

We know nothing of family or individual names, nor can we be sure what language they spoke. We can speculate that the men were bearded, having no blades sharp enough to make shaving possible, and that men and women wore clothes made of animal skins.

All we have for certain are the clues found in the scattered remains of their temporary habitations, like those at Greasby.

In comparison with the Roman or Norse presence on Wirral, our Mesolithic forebears are likely to keep many of their secrets until the end of time. wirrallife.com 25

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WHISKY REGIONS

BY DAVID GREEN, THE RED FOX

The art of producing whisky in Scotland has been around for centuries and began as a way of turning rain-soaked barley into a drinkable spirit, using the fresh water from the clear springs. The base recipe for whisky is pretty simple with only three ingredients, water, barley and yeast. It’s basically producing a beer without the addition of hops. This beer is then distilled and the resulting spirit is then matured in oak casks for at least three years.

Scotland has over 100 distilleries all producing different styles and flavours of whisky, and although the ingredients appear simple, the variation in the finished product is massive, from peaty, to light & sweet to dry and smoky where do you start picking a whisky? Where a whisky is made can have a huge bearing on its flavour, everything from the source of the water to the presence of peat in the local area will come through in the taste. Scotland is divided into 5 geographic areas with each region having common characteristics that separate them from the other regions, and this little guide below will hopefully help steer you to a whisky that you and your taste buds will enjoy.

LOWLAND Encompassing Edinburgh, Glasgow and Fife, it reaches from the Highland/Lowland divide down to the Borders and Dumfries & Galloway, and west to Ayrshire and Arran. With miles of farmland and neat woodlands, the Lowlands is one of the most charming and accessible whisky regions in Scotland. The mild climate and flat land make it ideal for growing barley, and it is famous for light, unpeated whiskies, which are soft and light in character, with malty, often grassy notes and subtle, delicate aromas. Lowlands are home to just three working distilleries: Auchentoshan, Bladnoch and Glenkinchie, this is a great region to start if you are new to whisky or you don’t like big bold flavours, try Auchentoshan Three Wood for a really smooth easy drinking dram.

HIGHLANDS The Highlands takes up most of the country, stretching from Orkney in the north to the Isle of Arran in the south, as the biggest geographical whisky area in Scotland it means there is a great variation in flavours. As a result, its whiskies are not easy to categorise. Distilleries in the northern Highlands generally produce whisky with full-bodied, sweet malts with cereal notes; in the south, the whiskies tend to be lighter, fruity and dry. In the east, expect full-bodied, dry and fruity compared with the western Highlands, which are peated with strong maritime influences. The distilleries on the islands, although officially not recognised as a sub-region, differ again. Highland Park on Orkney, for instance, is different to most mainland Highland malts because of the sweet smokiness flavours, try the dark art edition its wonderful, trust me. Other distilleries I would recommend include Aberfeldy, Dalmore, Glenmorangie & Dalwhinnie.

28 wirrallife.com

ISLAY Situated off Scotland's west coast, the island is just 25 miles long and is nicknamed “Whisky Island” due to its concentration of eight producing distilleries with another currently being built and this is personally my favourite region with Bruichladdich being my distillery of choice – you will often find me behind the bar talking about them and probably tasting a few drams too.

The whiskies from Islay are the strongest flavoured of the regions and renowned for their dryness and strong peaty smokiness. According to legend, monks first brought the art of whisky distilling here from Ireland. They found Islay ideal for distilling whisky thanks to the abundance of peat, spring water and barley. Islay single malts are renowned for their smokiness with faint notes of sea air and seaweed. Examples of distilleries include Bruichladdich, Bowmore, Lagavulin and Laphroaig.

SPEYSIDE Although actually located in the Highlands, this area has almost half the total number of distilleries in Scotland and is therefore officially recognised as a region. It gets its name from the River Spey, which cuts through this region and provides water to many of the distilleries. Speyside whiskies are characterised by sweet and fruity notes, ranging from ripe pears to sultanas.

Hints of nuts and malt are common, and some also possess a refined smokiness. The rich supply of pure water and beautiful inland setting help to produce smooth and complex whiskies.

Among the several acclaimed distilleries are Glenfiddich, The Glenlivet and The Macallan you must try the latest Glenfiddich Project X for a stunning whisky which sums up the region and the style.

CAMPBELTOWN With just three working distilleries, this is the smallest of the regions, once home to over 30 distilleries, It became a victim of its own popularity: demand was so great that distilleries couldn't keep up and ultimately the quality fell. When rival Speyside was connected to the newly built railways in the north, allowing superior quality spirit to reach the market more quickly, Campbeltown fell into further decline. Nowadays, the remaining distilleries produce whisky with unusual characteristics. Although local sources are depleted, peat from Tomintoul in the Highlands ensures the single malts retain their smoky palate. The sea mists from the Mull of Kintyre provide a maritime flavour. Distilleries are Glengyle, Glen Scotia, Springbank, I would recommend you try Springbank as they have a range of styles, I have just finished a bottle of Hazelburn which was finished in Barolo casks – really yummy tasting whisky with a great colour coming from the Barolo soaked cask.

THE WINE CONNOISSEUR

BY TIM SIBTHORP, OAK BISTRO

I have recently celebrated my 60th Birthday, so when I was approached by Wirral Life to write a short article about wine I at least felt I had enough wine drinking experience!

Leon Adams, the American publicist and co-founder of the Wine Institute is often quoted as saying “Anyone who tries to make you believe that he knows all about wines is obviously a fake” but allowing for his scepticism I am at least qualified to say a few words about wine because I love good wine and in the end that is all that matters.

Modern wine production is very different from the origins of wine. The earliest wine jars date from 8,000 years ago and the earliest winery is 6,100 years old. In those days the centre for wine production was in Georgia and Armenia but today over 60% of the world’s wine comes from just three countries, Italy, France and Spain. There is also a wealth of opinion, rumour and discussion relating to all things wine. What is the best wine? Do you drink red wine with meat and white wine with fish? My opinion is simple, drink good wine and enjoy!

This leaves the question of what is good wine. Wine, just like any other natural product, comes in a range of quality, quantity and price so how do you make sense of it all?

My first piece of advice would be to look for independent wine merchants such as Whitmore and White (Frodsham, Heswall and West Kirby) where their expert staff can help and advise you. As a basic principle independent smaller producers create better and more interesting wines than huge multinationals that fill the shelves of many supermarkets.

So what represents a good wine buy? Retail wine prices start at about £5 and extend to over £3000 but do you get that much more for an expensive wine? In truth wine prices are fixed by what people are willing to pay for a particular wine and if you are spending more than £200 for a bottle you are undoubtedly moving into wine prices set by trends and international prices.

All wine has the same duty charges and VAT. The labour and handling changes are about the same (60p) and the sales margins are about 30%. This means that for a £5 bottle (75cl) of still wine the actual value of the wine is about 17p. The value of the wine in a £10 bottle is about £2.94 or 17 times the value of the wine in the cheaper bottle. The simple truth

is that, within reason, you get a much better wine for a few pounds more. A classic example of this would be the very popular white wines of Northern Italy. You could opt for a £8 bottle of Pinot Grigio from a supermarket of your choice, but I would highly recommend you try a bottle of Ca Dei Frati from Lugana at about £16. The senses fairly dance to the Frati as it quality shines through to all your senses. A total joy in a glass with our without food and well worth the extra pounds.

The other place we often buy wine is in a restaurant and in this setting the Wine List is often devised to maximise profit rather than guide you to the best value for money. If you see a wine list with a well-known international brand name at the beginning of the list it will inevitably be a disappointment.

How then do we choose a wine? Price is obviously important as the cost of wines in a restaurant are often much higher than in retail shops. Remember that most restaurants work on a gross profit margin. To be fair on restaurateurs, the margin takes into account everything from service to tax and at the lower end of the price scale is more than justified. However a growing number of restaurateurs are taking a more realistic view of the cost of fine wines at the higher end of the price scale by putting a flat sum margin on their more expensive offerings. This encourages the guest to try wines that might otherwise be simply unrealistically priced.

At Oak we do exactly that, our entry level wines are all subject to a modest profit percentage margin but once you reach above £25 a bottle we have a flat increase in margin.

I was in a posh Chester City Hotel last week and noted that they stocked one of my favourite wines the 2014 Wild Sauvignon by Greywacke in Marlborough, New Zealand but it was a staggering £75 a bottle when we have it on the Oak fine wine list for just £35. Made by winemaker Kevin Judd, who originally gave us the now overrated Cloudy Bay, this naturally fermented Sauvignon Blanc is leagues ahead of the rest of similar New Zealand wines. Judd also makes a standard Sauvignon, a stunning Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Riesling wines of outstanding quality so Cloudy Bay’s loss is our gain.

So in short, pay a few pounds more, source small independent producers, ask for advice and most important of all, enjoy!

wirrallife.com 29

FRESH. SIMPLE.

DELICIOUS.

BAR & BISTRO

• BREAKFAST • LUNCH • DINNER • COCKTAILS 9AM - 11PM EVERYDAY T: 0151 678 0104 W: oakbistro.co.uk 126 GREASBY ROAD, GREASBY, CH49 3NQ

THE BUTCHERS CUT

BY STEPHEN MUFF

Stephen Muff of Muff’s of Bromborough shares with us his delicious lamb recipe.

Fillet of Lamb Tapenade, Mini Shepherds Pie and Garlic Roast Root Vegetables

Ingredients • • • • • •

Prepared Lamb Fillet 2 x 400g Olive Oil 40ml Black Olives 200g Anchovy Fillets 50g Garlic 2 cloves Pig’s caul 4 sheets

Mini Shepherd’s Pie • Finely chopped onion 75g • Finely diced carrot 50g • Olive Oil 40ml • Minced Lamb 200g • Lamb stock 100ml • Peas 50g • Medium sized jacket potatoes 4 • Butter 25g • Fresh Thyme 4 sprigs Garlic Roasted Root Veg • Carrot 1 large • Turnip 1 medium • Swede 1 small • Celeriac 1 small • Button Mushrooms 16 • Garlic & Cloves • Olive Oil 50ml Rosemary & Redcurrant Jus • Strong lamb stock 400ml • Port 75ml • Chopped shallots 50ml • Redcurrants 40g • Freshly chopped rosemary 1tbsp • Salt & pepper to taste 30 32 wirrallife.com wirrallife.com

Method 1. Bone & trim lamb. Preheat oven 180oC. 2. For tapenade, put all the black olives and garlic in a pan and sweat for 2 min. Mix in a blender with anchovy fillets and seasoning to make a smooth paste and reserve for later.

3. Lay out the pig’s caul and spread out the tapenade then roll around the lamb. Wrap in cling film and chill for 15 minutes.

4. Steam for 15 minutes.

5. For the Shepherd pies, sweat off the onions and carrots in a little oil. Add the minced lamb and season well. Add the lamb stock and peas. Simmer for 5 minutes.

6. Scoop the mash out of their jackets and mash with butter, thyme and seasoning.

Half fill the ramekins then top with piped mash and bake for 15 minutes.

7. Chop and blanch veg separately, then sauté with chopped onion and garlic before finishing in the oven.

8. For the redcurrant reduction, reduce the lamb stock by half with the rosemary. In a seperate pan reduce the port, redcurrants and chopped shallots by half. Add the rosemary stock and reduce until the correct consistency is achieved and correct the seasoning.

CELEBRATE CHESTER RACES 01 2 4 4 3 1 1 8 3 9 w w w. p i c a nha g r i l l . c o. u k Ne w g a t e St re e t C he s t e r C H1 1 D Q

/picanhachester

@picanhauk

@picanhauk

WRECKFISH

by Carl Housbey

Earlier this year I was very fortunate to secure a booking for the Wreckfish Bistro popup which took place between February 15th - February 19th in an abandoned building on the corner of Seel Street and Slater Street in Liverpool’s Ropewalks district. Tickets for the event were limited to 30 guests each night and were in such demand that they sold out within 10 minutes of being released.

Wreckfish Bistro is intended to be the latest restaurant from Gary Usher, who many will know as the man that keeps us all entertained on Twitter with his very forthright and amusing opinions about TripAdvisor, and the rest will know from his restaurants Sticky Walnut in Hoole, Burnt Truffle in Heswall, and Hispi in Didsbury.

The concept of the popup was to raise public awareness ahead of his latest Kickstarter campaign which is aiming to raise £200,000 towards the cost of making Wreckfish Bistro a permanent feature on the Liverpool dining scene.

We went along on the last day to see how everything had gone so far and to sample the set menu on offer. The menu was an ambitious six course tasting menu, I say ambitious because remember this is an abandoned building with no electricity, gas, or running water!!

When we arrived, we were greeted by Gary’s ever friendly General Manager Emma, and shown to our places amongst the other guests at a long communal table. This was a great idea as it gave everyone the chance to talk each other and share a common love of Gary and his food, so within minutes the place was filled with excited, friendly banter.

34 wirrallife.com

To start, we were served a deliciously creamy cauliflower soup accompanied by focaccia, sourdough and rye bread. Next up was a Sea Bass Ceviche with pomegranate, lime and crispy kale. I am a fan of Ceviche, but this one was particularly good with fabulously fresh Sea Bass and that lovely citrusy hit of lime to make your palate zing.

The first couple of courses lasted no time at all, as everyone had wolfed them down greedily, but this meant we had time to watch the chefs perform an impromptu pyrotechnic display while they flame grilled Sea Bream, before serving it to us on a bed of courgette spaghetti with taramasalata and parsley oil.

Meat lovers amongst the guests, myself included, were very happy with the beautifully tender venison served with a prune puree, red cabbage, juniper and a light dusting of chocolate.

This lead us onto our dessert of a deliciously bitter dark chocolate tart, which was complimented superbly by the sweet homemade honeycomb, and hazelnut praline cream.

If my experience at the popup is anything to go by, then Wreckfish will be a roaring success, but there is the not insignificant sum of £200,000 to raise first. This is a lot of money, but I am certain that Gary’s loyal following, together with the famously generous people of Liverpool will be digging deep when the time comes.

The campaign starts on 2nd May, so keep an eye on www.kickstarter.com and www.wreckfish.co for more details.

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MOOR HALL

by Carl Housbey

When Mark Birchall announced in 2015 that he was leaving 2 Michelin starred L’Enclume in Cartmel, to set up his own restaurant at Moor Hall with friend and business partner Andy Bell, every foodie in the UK was both surprised and excited in equal measure, myself included.

Turning 16th century Moor Hall into a fabulous Restaurant with Rooms took longer than anticipated. However, the work is now complete, which means that this month I can tell you all about the hottest new opening of 2017.

We had booked dinner with overnight stay, but decided to arrive a couple of hours ahead of the normal 3:00pm check in time, as I wanted to explore the five acre grounds, and take a look at the kitchen gardens, where Mark and his team grow much of the produce served in the restaurant.

Once back inside we had complimentary coffee and cake served in the lounge, and I took full advantage of the fact that we were staying the night by choosing a digestif or two from the extensive list to accompany it.

It was soon time to head up to our room to freshen up, and wow what a room. We were in The Mulberry Suite, which has a sumptuous bedroom and lounge area overlooking the lake at the front of the house, as well as a spectacular bathroom at the rear, with a view of the aforementioned kitchen garden.

We arranged to meet our friends for pre-dinner drinks in the lounge, and intended to try a glass of Moor Hall’s own exclusive house Champagne from producer Henri Giraud, but it was so 36 wirrallife.com

good we ended up polishing off a magnum of the superb 2009 vintage with our canapés.

I have eaten Mark’s food many times before, and thought I knew what to expect from the 8-course tasting menu, but I must say that I was blown away by his latest creations, as were both of our friends, one of whom is a very accomplished Chef himself.

Our meal started with several snacks amongst which was a home-made black pudding, that is like no black pudding you’ve ever tasted before, crunchy on the outside whilst light and fluffy in the centre. We also had a Crab and Turnip Broth, which contained turnip of such amazing flavour that I almost turned vegetarian, luckily, I didn’t as that would have meant missing out on one of Marks signature dishes, the Aged Beef in Charcoal.

Dish after dish of excellent food followed, but I don’t want to spoil your experience by giving away too much, suffice it to say that it is one of the best meals I’ve ever had. Superb food, wine, and service in luxurious surroundings mean you’ve just got to go and try this for yourself.

I’m going to finish by giving thanks to Andy Bell for his huge investment, as it now means I only have to drive as far as Aughton, near Ormskirk to experience Mark Birchall’s sublime food, in fact I have already booked to go again. For reservations click on www.moorhall.com or call 01695 572511.

To stay up to date with my adventures: follow @carlhousbey

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wirrallife.com 37

*Terms & Conditions Apply Authorised and regulated by the financial conduct authority WIRRAL SHOWROOM

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Why rent when you can buy

Why rent when you can buy Help to Buy *

Help to Buy

THE DENEWOOD PLOT 18

£279,950

A four bedroom detached home

beautiful four bedroom detached home includes an£279,950 integral THE This DENEWOOD PLOT 18 garage with light and power; expansive open-plan kitchen/dining room A four detached home doors leading on to the garden. withbedroom fitted breakfast bar and French The livingfour room is light and airy and,home adding further an to the appeal This beautiful bedroom detached includes integral value this power; home, isexpansive the wide range of premium appliancesroom that garageand with lightofand open-plan kitchen/dining are fitted as standard in its stylishdoors kitchen including fully with fitted breakfast bar and French leading on to theintegrated garden. appliances.

The living room is light and airy and, adding further to the appeal Upstairs, there are four good-sized bedrooms, two ofappliances which havethat an and value of this home, is the wide range of premium en-suite shower room built-in wardrobes.

There is aintegrated wellappointed are fitted as standard in itsand stylish kitchen including fully bathroom with shower mixer at bath and an abundance of storage. The appliances. master en-suite has a chrome heated towel rail, fitted vanity furniture

Upstairs, are four good-sized bedrooms, two of whichthis have an and there wall mirror.

A garage with light and power completes home. en-suite shower room and built-in wardrobes. There is a wellappointed bathroom with shower mixer at bath and an abundance of storage. The masterAvailable en-suitewith has†:a•chrome towel rail, fitted Help to heated Buy* • Carpets, turf andvanity fence furniture and wall mirror. A garage with light and power completes this home.

* Help to Buy is a product in the Government’s HomeBuy range designed to help buyers in England Help to Buy is a product in the Government’s buy your new home in an affordable way. Help to Buy HomeBuy range designed to help buyers in England will enable an eligible buyer to purchase a brand buy your new home in an affordable way. Help to Buy new home, funded by an affordable mortgage and will assistance enable an from eligible buyer toAgency. purchase brand with a HomeBuy Helpato newgives home, by antoaffordable Buy youfunded the chance buy a new mortgage home with and withassistance assistance from a HomeBuy Agency. the of an equity stake. The value ofHelp the to Buy gives you the chance to the buyfull a new stake is a maximum of 20% of pricehome of thewith the assistance of an equity stake. The property.

The maximum full purchase pricevalue is setof at the £600,000. stake is a maximum of 20% of the full price of the

property.

The maximum full purchase price is set at Under the scheme the government provides an equity £600,000. stake as follows: •Under Government provides equity stakeprovides of up to 20% the scheme theangovernment an equity

as follows: •stake You arrange a mortgage for up to 75% ••Meaning your provides deposit isan justequity 5% stake of up to 20% Government

• You arrange a mortgage for up to 75% • Meaning your deposit is just 5%

Marketing suite open

Available with†: • Help to Buy* • Carpets, turf and fence

Thursday to Monday 10.00am to 5.00pm uptonpines@stewartmilne.com

Marketing suite open

†Offers detailed are not combinable and are available on selected homes only. Offers are subject to status. Terms and conditions apply. See website for details, subject to contract and status. Images shown reflect the varying styles and sizes of typical Stewart Milne homes and are intended to illustrate typical styles and finishes only. Elevation treatments and specification may vary from those shown. Please refer to architectural drawings for details. Please ask for details. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY DEBT SECURED ON IT. * Help to Buy price is calculated based on the reduced 80% mortgage with the other 20% as part of the government equity. ** Help to Buy is only available on selected homes at selected developments in England. Eligible applicants will be offered an equity loan of up to a maximum of 20% of the full market price. The Homes & Communities Agency will hold the second charge on the property. Applicants are required to fund at least 80% of the purchase price by means of a mortgage and any deposit where required. For the first five years there is no fee charged on the equity loan component. At the start of year six a fee is collected of 1.75% of the market value of the property at the time the loan is entered into multiplied by the outstanding percentage under the equity loan, the annual fee of 1.75% will be uplifted by RPI +1% p.a. The equity loan is provided by the Homes and Communities Agency and developer as a second charge. Prices correct at time of going to press.

Thursday to Monday 10.00am to 5.00pm uptonpines@stewartmilne.com

†Offers detailed are not combinable and are available on selected homes only. Offers are subject to status. Terms and conditions apply. See website for details, subject to contract and status. Images shown reflect the varying styles and sizes of typical Stewart Milne homes and are intended to illustrate typical styles and finishes only. Elevation treatments and specification may vary from those shown. Please refer to architectural drawings for details. Please ask for details. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF

BEST PROPERTIES OVER £750K EDITOR’S CHOICE

Glendale Manor, Caldy £2,500,000 A distinguished home of impeccable new design and quality specification of finish.

‘Glendale Manor’ holds an interior, beautifully blending the elegant warmth and traditional style of an Arts and Crafts residence, whilst boasting state of the art technology, design elements and features, culminating in a home which provides all the necessary criteria that the modern day lifestyle commands.

In addition to the five bedroom, six bathroom, master house accommodation, the property boasts a spacious two bedroom duplex apartment, stunning rear lawned garden with ‘heated’ entertaining terrace, extensive first floor terrace and stunning pool house, complete with steam room and gym.

Contact Bradshaw Farnham Lea for more information on 0151 625 8844.

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Croft Drive East, Caldy ÂŁ2,350,000 Situated in the prestigious and highly desirable area of Caldy, stands this impressive and substantial five double bedroom detached family home.

Set in approximately two acres of land this property is located behind electric wrought iron gates and a long sweeping driveway. Immaculately presented and appointed to an exact specification throughout the accommodation has been meticulously updated to a high standard by its current owners.

Comprehensively refurbished and architecturally re-designed internally comprising a grand entrance hallway with glass feature gallery landing, downstairs cloakroom. Spacious reception room, garden room, office suite and a high quality fitted modern kitchen diner with central island, a range of integrated appliances and utility room off. In addition to the living space on the ground floor you have the leisure suite including a games room, gym and a heated indoor swimming pool with hot tub/jacuzzi area, surround lighting and speaker system. The first floor offers the master suite with a large double bedroom, dressing room and contemporary en suite bathroom, two further double bedrooms both with dressing rooms and en suites, bedrooms four and five with further en suites.

Contact Move Residential for more information on 0151 342 0999.

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BEST PROPERTIES UNDER £750K EDITORS CHOICE

Plymyard Copse, Bromborough £375,000 “Timberley” is a superb 3 bedroom detached bungalow ideally located on a private lane offering spacious accommodation with a modern finish and neutral decor throughout and also boasting a number of extras including solar panels. Plymyard Copse is a private lane off Gorsefield Avenue which provides access to 4 individual properties including this superb detached bungalow.

Timberley is located on the right hand side, third property along offering herringbone off road parking, landscaped gardens with an Asian theme including water feature and a wide range of shrubs, bushes and trees. Double opening doors from the dining room open into a wonderful living room offering well proportioned accommodation with two picture windows either side of the centrally located Spanish limestone fireplace, sliding patio doors opening onto the rear patio and showcasing the aspect over the gardens. Viewing is a must!

Contact Brennan Ayre O’Neill on 0151 343 9060.

Cavendish Road, Birkenhead £550,000 Period Grandeur! If you are looking for a superb spacious family residence then look no further. This six bedroom semi detached house offers flexible living accommodation across four floors and exceptional views on to Birkenhead Park. This exceptional property comprises of an inviting entrance vestibule through to entrance hallway with cloaks, well presented breakfast kitchen and spacious drawing room off. The lower ground floor would be ideally utilised as an annexe, ‘granny flat’ or ‘nanny quarters’ as there is a living room with fitted kitchen, bedroom and shower room. The basement offers a spacious bar, store room and wine cellar. Upstairs and over two floors are five further bedrooms and three bathrooms. The master suite is a wonderful space with lounge area, four piece bathroom with modern tiles and dressing room. Outside there is great off street parking space and well maintained gardens to the front and rear of the property which afford lawns, mature shrub borders and several paved/decking areas which catch the sun at different times of day.

Contact Karl Tatler on 0151 608 6333.

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The Finney, Caldy ÂŁ749,950 Situated in a quiet cul-de-sac in the exclusive area of Caldy is this magnificent six bedroom detached property offering substantial family accommodation whilst providing sensational views across the Dee Estuary towards the rolling Welsh Hills. This impressive property is approached via double opening wrought iron gates with a driveway providing ample off road parking for several vehicles leading to a large double garage and a lawned front garden with well stocked borders. Internally, this beautifully presented home boasts a grand entrance hall, a downstairs WC, a study, a sitting room with a glass fronted gas feature fireplace and a superb set of sliding doors allowing for an abundance of light to brighten this spacious room whilst providing access to the beautifully maintained rear garden, a dining room with ample space for a formal dining table and a utility room. At the heart of this stunning home is the luxury fitted kitchen boasting granite work surfaces, a superb centre island, impressive porcelain tiled flooring with underfloor heating and a comprehensive range of high quality integrated appliances.

Contact Move Residential on 0151 342 0999.

Woodland Avenue, Meols Offers in excess of ÂŁ449,000 The agents are delighted to bring to market this traditional four bedroom, detached family home which simply must be viewed within to appreciate not only the well proportioned living accommodation but also the high specification to which it has been presented. Enjoying an enviable residential position close to Great Meols primary school, situated within a prime, no through road location just set back from Meols Parade, the property offers hallway, two separate reception rooms, superb dining kitchen, utility room, four bedrooms and bathroom.

To the rear there is a well enclosed lawned garden with more than adequate parking provided with by both the garage and driveway.

Contact Bradshaw Farnham Lea on 0151 625 8844.

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BEST FIRST TIME BUYERS EDITORS CHOICE

Eastham Rake, Eastham £139,950 This delightful accommodation is spacious with 2 reception rooms, fitted kitchen, white bathroom and 2 double bedrooms.

Well located on Eastham Rake with locals shops, amenities and transport inc. trains and motorway. The property offers ample parking to the front with gated access to the side. The property has been recently decorated throughout with new carpets upstairs. The entrance hall offers neutral decor with stairs to the first floor and connecting door into the lounge, with central heating throughout. The garden is southerly facing enjoying a lot of sun.

Contact Brennan Ayre O’Neill on 0151 343 9060.

Blakenhall Way, Saughall Massie £134,950 Move Residential are delighted to be agent of choice to offer for sale this two bedroom semi detached home, located in the popular residential area of Saughall Massie. Well maintained and appointed the accommodation internally comprises a porch, spacious lounge and well fitted kitchen diner. To the first floor you have a good sized double bedroom, bedroom two and a modern bathroom. Externally boasting a private enclosed rear garden with a patio area and off road parking. Further benefiting easy access to local amenities and transport links, double glazing and gas central heating. As appointed agents we strongly recommend an internal viewing.

Contact Move Residential on 0151 342 0999.

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BEST NEW BUILD EDITOR’S CHOICE

The Stables, Manor Drive, Upton ÂŁ499,950 Enjoy spectacular living in this newly built home! A rare opportunity has arisen to own a brand new home that has been finished with an eye for impeccable quality.

You will find this home offers any buyer a flexible layout and a lifestyle that will be the envy of all your friends.

When entering the hallway you can walk ahead to the kitchen/ dining/family room which is the full width of the property having bi-fold doors leading to the patio and garden, and access to the separate utility and integral garage. To the front of the property is the lounge and the office/snug and the downstairs w.c. Upstairs there are four double bedrooms ,the master with ensuite shower room and the four piece family bathroom. To the front of the property is a lawn and ample parking leading to the double garage.

Contact Karl Tatler for more information on 0151 606 1717.

wirrallife.com 47

*Terms & Conditions Apply Authorised and regulated by the financial conduct authority WIRRAL SHOWROOM

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MEET WIRRAL’S FLYING DOCTORS Wirral Life talk to Wirral Doctor’s Ian Jones and Sally-Ann Dolan on life, family and business.

Tell us a little about yourselves We are known in the clinic as Dr Jones and Dr Dolan but I am actually Mrs Jones! Ian and I both qualified locally to where we were born, Ian in Cardiff and myself in Liverpool (although I was born on the Wirral). I have worked solely on the Wirral since qualifying as a GP and a medico legal expert but Ian has been far more adventurous and has held posts in Cardiff, Newcastle, San Francisco, California and the Wirral, where he remains to date as a Consultant Endocrinologist. We live locally in Hoylake where we enjoy a busy and hectic family life. The family is so important to us and we ensure we always maintain a happy balance between work and family.

spacious clinic and treatment rooms. As we offer an extensive range of beauty treatments and stock several ranges of skin care products, people who step into our clinic do not feel that they are necessarily coming in for aesthetic procedures buy may be undergoing many other treatments. We love our business and thoroughly enjoy working together. We have an incredible team supporting us and we actually think of the girls as extended family, not employees! It is easy to get up in the morning, as we regularly say it's just "not like going to work" - we relish the day ahead and the exciting challenges that might face us and the interesting people we will encounter. It's not a job - it's a privilege.

You have both achieved so much and run your own business SDS Rejuvenate which offers non-surgical aesthetic treatment, what inspired you to start SDS Rejuvenate?

Having attended an introductory training session on the botulinum toxins and dermal fillers we were inspired and intrigued, so attended an advanced training course and several conferences. We found aesthetic medicine fascinating and just wanted to know more. Our first clinic was in Rodney street but we soon saw the potential of having a clinic on the Wirral. We opened our doors in Banks Road, West Kirby in May 2013 and within 3 years we had outgrown the available space. Being able to purchase the property next door enabled us to establish SDS Rejuvenate Medispa which now has six

What are your most popular aesthetic procedures?

Anti-wrinkle treatments are top of the list but dermal fillers are a close second and probably our favourite procedure to perform. It is very rewarding to see an instant result and even more so when the patient sees the instant lift and enhancement.

Treatments with dermal fillers allow us to combine our artistic and creative attributes with our medical expertise - we both loved art in school! Ian’s favourite procedure is treating lips.

Using dermal filler we can replace volume that has been lost naturally or we can improve asymmetry.

PlexR is a relatively new treatment in the UK, and is referred to as ‘soft surgery’. We can achieve the same result using PlexR wirrallife.com 55

as one can with surgery but there is very little downtime as there is no cutting or suturing. The most popular treatment is Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) and the results are as good as, and last as long as, surgery. It is a very exciting addition to our clinic and our patients that have undergone PlexR are nothing less than excited. Laser treatments are very exciting and will continue to be so and the range of treatments we perform is continuing to expand. Being able to treat many medical conditions such as fungal toenails, benign skin lesions and skin resurfacing is very satisfying and rewarding. The laser however is kept very busy as Harriet, who is an expert on the laser, performs skin retexturing, hair removal and thread veins.

Can you share with us your most popular or newest beauty treatments?

Dermalux which is the latest generation in LED Phototherapy combines clinically proven wavelengths of light delivered at safe, therapeutic doses to naturally stimulate skin rejuvenation and resolve problem skin conditions for the face and body.

Dermalux® systems ensure ‘optimised’ penetration of light into the skin to energise cellular functions with excellent results for skin rejuvenation, acne and spot prone skin, pigmentation and inflammatory conditions such as rosacea, psoriasis and dermatitis.

What do you most love about your job?

As doctors we have always enjoyed interacting and helping people within our own specialties. Our role in aesthetics allows us to see the positive impact a treatment may have on an individual, boosting self-esteem and confidence. Making a positive change in people's lives that often enhances their quality of life is very satisfying. This treatment can be anything from clearing a teenagers acne to improving facial asymmetry with dermal fillers. We also love where we work and with whom we work with; Marie, Harriet and Shelby.

What do you see as the trends for 2017 in the aesthetic industry?

Aesthetics has been steadily moving away from a ‘worked on’ look and we anticipate this trend will continue. Our clients want to avoid the appearance of having had ‘work done’ but are instead pursuing more subtle enhancements. Less is more and there is a strong trend for this year to have regular, on-going small "tweakments" rather than overdoing it with too many over corrections. If you can see something has been done it's been overdone! We specialise in advanced facial volumisation which is subtle and is all about treating the cause, not the result of the problem.

We are also seeing more men! As more and more people are getting comfortable not only with getting medical aesthetics services such as anti-wrinkle injections, dermal fillers and laser skin rejuvenation, but with also talking about these services with their friends and on social media, the market share for men continues to climb. While men in their forties, fifties and beyond tend to focus on looking younger in the workplace, younger men focus on enhancement and age-prevention. As more men realise the self-confidence and satisfaction of looking their best, it’s safe to say even more men will seek out aesthetic procedures in the coming year.

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And finally... a more complete experience: transition from offering aesthetic treatments exclusively to promoting health and wellness in general including anti-ageing treatments and vitamin replacement, rather than treating only surface level issues we are embracing a more complete solution, with the goal of helping patients to feel better, not just look better.

When you are not working what do you like to do to relax?

Neither of us are very good at sitting still as I am sure everyone who knows us will say so! Time not at work is spent with the family and the recent addition of our long haired German shepherd puppy, Lola. There is nothing more relaxing than a long walk along West Kirby beach or around the marine lake, whatever the weather. We both hold private pilot licences and there is nothing more exhilarating than taking off from John Lennon airport and flying over Snowdonia to Caernarfon airport for a coffee or lunch before flying back. There's no argument about who flies, Ian tends to fly there and I fly back!!!

We love our holiday, we work hard and play hard and throughout the winter we regularly visit Morillon, a small ski resort in the French Alps. Our summer haunt is Abersoch where we reckon the sun always shines - it has its own microclimate!

Guilty secrets!

Our guilty secret is a cold glass of peroni for Ian and a chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc for myself. On a Friday, well it has to be Fizz Friday with the girls, a perfect way to end the working week ! My personal guilty secret, do I have to confess? Buying shoes and I'm not telling you how many pairs I have!

Plans for the future?

We are constantly planning and looking at what's new, what's exciting? Aesthetics is constantly evolving and is a growing field.

There are lots of exciting developments and we aim to keep pace with these new ideas and technologies through attending conferences both in the UK and further afield. We have a trip planned to Slovenia where we will be undertaking advanced training on our state of the art laser we have in clinic. Watch this space! We do not have any plans to expand our clinic as yet, but who knows. The rate at which our workload and our client base is increasing we might have to - what an exciting prospect and a fabulous problem to have!

Do you like to eat in or out?

Well both! I actually love cooking and I really enjoy trying new recipes or simply experimenting in the kitchen. We are lucky to have children and great friends who are more than happy to sample the results! Casual meals with friends are the best and that is where Ian has a part to play, he's a whizz with the BBQ and that is not just in the summer, it's all year round. If it's dry it's good for a BBQ! Eating out is also something we enjoy with the family and we are lucky to have a superb array of restaurants and wine bars in West Kirby and Hoylake, all in easy walking distance from home.

To find out more about SDS Rejuvenate, visit: www.sdsrejuvenate.co.uk

Salons throughout the North West. andrewcollinge.com

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BRIDAL STYLE

BY ANDREW COLLINGE

Hair by Andrew Collinge, Dress by Kirsty Doyle.

Whether you’re walking down the aisle or simply attending a wedding as a guest this summer, picking a hairstyle is a task that doesn’t need to be difficult. We give you our top tips to ensure you look fantastic for the big day.

Choice of Dress An important factor when considering a hairstyle will inevitably be its ability to complement your choice of dress. If you are asking for style advice from your hairdresser then consider taking a photograph of your dress to your consultation.

Necklines play a big part in choosing a hairstyle and it’s important that your hair balances out your overall look and doesn’t distract from the details of the dress.

Don’t change who you are However tempted you may be to dramatically change your hair colour, length or style, think before you act. Your wedding hairstyle should be an extension of your current look and you’ll want to find a style you feel comfortable in. Whilst trends come and go, your wedding photos will last forever, therefore choosing a classic timeless look will ensure your wedding day photos don’t look dated.

Plan in advance If opting for a change in length or colour, make sure to schedule an appointment with your hairdresser a few weeks before your wedding.

Scheduling appointments at least 2 weeks prior to your wedding should give you enough time to grow nicely into your new style.

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Do your research With an abundance of options available, it may be difficult to pinpoint the perfect hairstyle however do your research. Experimenting with styles at home prior to the wedding will help you get a feel for a new look. It’ll help you assess whether a style will be easily manageable on the big day and will give you the chance to get used to the look. If you’re asking a hairdresser to style your hair, consider bringing pictures and ideas to your appointment. Wearing makeup to your consultation will also help give you a feel of what your finished style will look like on the day.

On the big day If you’re visiting a salon allow plenty of time to get home, change into your dress and enjoy photographs before you leave the house. I sometimes prefer to work with hair when it’s not too soft. It may be advisable to visit the salon the day before to have hair washed and set and on the day itself the hair will be easier to work with. All these decisions will be made during a practice with your hairdresser prior to the wedding day.

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BREATHING YOURSELF SLIM

BY JOEL JELEN OF RESET BREATHING

Did you hear the one about the breathing re-trainer that can scientifically prove that by breathing less we can shed the pounds?

We’ve long been told that deep breathing is really good for us especially when we are trying to relax in anticipation of a nervous moment in our lives. Strong scientific evidence now tells us that breathing too much or overbreathing, that is if you can hear yourself inhale and exhale or if you regularly sigh, yawn or pant when you are puffed out is bad for you.

A relatively new book by a breathing specialist colleague of mine Patrick McKeown maintains in The Oxygen Advantage that this is a big factor at the root of many ailments including anxiety, fatigue, insomnia and even obesity. Oxygen goes into our bloodstream when we breathe in and the body dumps carbon dioxide out of the bloodstream in return. Our bodies don’t always know how much air we need just like sometimes we don’t feel thirsty even if our bodies are dehydrated.

Have you ever found yourself gasping for air? Chances are that you need to stop exhaling too much carbon dioxide which plays a vital role in determining how much oxygen goes into the bloodstream. Carbon dioxide acts as a facilitator that loosens the bonds between our blood cells and the oxygen they carry which in turn allows oxygen to be released so it can reach our muscles and organs.

If you’re tired and your brain and body aren’t functioning properly, the results of which can be poor circulation and you often feel cold, there is a strong chance you need more carbon dioxide to release the oxygen you already have. Breathing more calmly is the answer. If you snore at night or become a habitual mouth breather during the day (breathe as often through your mouth as you eat through your nose) your carbon dioxide receptors can become oversensitive lowering their tolerance and triggering frequent urges to sigh, breathe deeply or gasp for air that your body doesn’t really need.

Overbreathing tends to narrow the airways, limiting your body’s ability to oxygenate your muscles and organs. It can construct blood vessels, leading to reduced bloodflow to the heart and can make you gain weight. Carbon dioxide is an essential element in regulating the pH level in the blood. This is the measure of how acidic or alkaline your blood is. Blood becomes very acidic often owing to an unhealthy diet and too much alcohol which will cause you to overbreathe as your body attempts to dump the excess carbon dioxide. If your blood is alkaline because your diet is rich in fruit and vegetables, your breathing can reduce to let carbon dioxide levels rise and restore pH. For people who practise breathing habits, this will kickstart oxygen levels in the blood reducing their appetite and encouraging a more efficient digestion and processing of food.

We encourage people to practise e.g. ‘light’ breathing exercises at least four times a day. One of these routines includes consciously making your breathing smaller and more shallow for a few minutes breathing through the nose and tummy which creates a slight hunger for air, then return to normal nasal breathing, then repeat.

If you are feeling stressed at work, break for a few minutes and take a walk. Pinch your nose and hold your breath for up to 5 seconds as you walk then breathe normally through your nose for 10 seconds or so and then repeat the process before returning to breathing normally again. Watch how it calms the mind and boosts carbon dioxide levels enough to give your brain, muscles and organs a quick oxygen and energy blast.

If you can comfortably walk and hold your breath for more than 12-15 seconds, try and build this into your exercise regime. This will force the body to work anaerobically for short bursts resulting in you being more likely to burn calories from fat stores and quicker weight loss. Also try and walk for at least 30 minutes every day breathing only through your nose.

For more information, visit www.resetbreathing.com wirrallife.com 59

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LET’S TALK ORTHODONTICS Richard Gibson, Principal of Wallasey Orthodontics and Consultant at Liverpool University Dental Hospital shares with us his insight into Orthodontics and its benefits!

Orthodontics, the branch of dentistry concerned with the growth of the teeth, jaws and face, is in high demand.

More than 200,000 children and teenagers in England and Wales have treatment within the NHS every year, with growing numbers of adults and young people seeking treatment on a private basis.

Why? Orthodontic treatment is about making the best of your teeth; it’s about improving the harmony of your mouth and jaws. Once you can bite together correctly, you can eat more comfortably and care for your teeth and gums more easily. And your smile will benefit immensely!

In good health, your teeth sit in a delicate balance between the soft tissues of your lips and tongue, their roots contained within bone and gum. Orthodontists use their skills and knowledge to maximise the appearance and function of the teeth without upsetting this important equilibrium.

Any dentist can, in theory, use braces but an Orthodontist is a dentist who has gone through a minimum of 3 years specific orthodontic training, successfully passing the Membership in Orthodontic examination set by the Royal College of Surgeons.

They will be registered with the General Dental Council for orthodontics and are trained in all routine aspects of diagnosis, planning and treatment. Orthodontists can at this stage choose to apply for further advanced training in more complex care which allows them to become a hospital Consultant.

Richard Gibson studied dentistry in Newcastle-upon-Tyne where he met the love of his life. They lived and worked in Newcastle until Richard was appointed to embark upon his orthodontic training at Liverpool University Dental Hospital and carry out his Masters in Orthodontics at Liverpool University for which he was awarded a Distinction. On completion of his speciality training in orthodontics and being awarded the Liverpool Orthodontologic award for best treated cases he was appointed to carry out further training to become a Consultant with additional training in complex multidisciplinary cases and duly started a Consultant position in 60 wirrallife.com

Liverpool in 2013. He currently works part-time in the hospital providing complex specialist care concentrating on combined surgical and restorative cases alongside the use of temporary anchorage within orthodontics.

Richard started in Wallasey in 2011 and became the practice principal in 2014. He has 2 little boys who love driving him crazy but who also support mum and daddy as they compete around the country in the Spartan Race series.

Richard said: “Wallasey Orthodontic Practice has been providing specialist orthodontic services to the Wirral and beyond since 1982 and provides contemporary, evidence based, efficient and effective Consultant led treatment in a friendly and welcoming environment for both children and adults from a convenient and accessible location. Our approach is to encourage patients to manage and maintain great dental and oral health and allow them to embrace the smile they always dreamed of and this is achieved through lending our expertise, knowledge and skills with the patients desire for a winning smile.”

Benefits of orthodontic treatment include: • Removing dental crowding or closing spaces.

• Straightening teeth.

• Correcting the bite, so that the front teeth meet on closing and the back teeth mesh together.

• Reducing the likelihood of damage to prominent teeth • Enhancing facial aesthetics.

• Accommodating impacted, unerupted or displaced teeth.

• Preparation for advanced dental treatment, such as crowns, bridges or dental implants.

• Reversing the drifting of the teeth in older patients who have suffered from advanced gum disease.

People choose to have orthodontic treatment for any number of personal reasons but with the aesthetic advances in braces materials and flexible payment options – that smile you’ve always dreamed of, may be closer than you think!

To find out more about Wallasey Orthodontics, visit: www.wallaseyorthodontics.co.uk

The Secret Behind a Beautiful Smile Incognito braces are the modern and invisible alternative to conventional braces.

Incognito braces are an advanced generation of brace that is hidden discreetly on the back of the teeth, not on the front like conventional ‘train tacks’. This allows people to go about their daily routine without feeling self-conscious because their braces are invisible from the outside.

Incognito braces are suitable for all age groups - children, adolescents and adults who want to correct their tooth position. The brace is custom made for each patient to maximise comfort and ensure precise results, this is achieved by using the latest computer technology when creating the brace.

Book your consultation today

154 Belvidere Rd, Wallasey, CH45 4PT E: braces@wallaseyorthodontics.co.uk W: wallaseyorthodontics.co.uk T: 0151 630 6345

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WEIGHTLOSS THROUGH A KEYHOLE

BY CONOR MCGEE

The clocks have gone forward, which can only mean one thing- Summer is a-coming. Alongside Summer our thoughts naturally turn to holidays. The ritual of choosing a place to go, who to go with and, of course, what to wear. There can’t be many of us that haven’t tried to lose some weight just to fit into that new swimming costume!

For most people this means losing a few pounds- usually by cutting out naughty foods and perhaps indulging in some exercise.

But what if you needed to lose a stone? OK- let’s start a proper diet and regular exercise. But how about 5 stones? What about 10 stones, 15 stones- what would you do if you needed to lose 20 stones…or even more?

It is an unfortunate fact that severe obesity (properly termed morbid obesity- because of it’s serious effects on health) is a huge problem both here on the Wirral and across the United Kingdom. Right now there are over nearly 2.5 million people in the UK with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 40 (a normal BMI is between 20 and 25). This is a huge problem; because morbid obesity is associated with severe, expensive health problems, notably type 2 diabetes. The NHS spends around 1.25 Million pounds per day in treating diabetes- and the biggest driver of diabetes is severe obesity.

Unfortunately, severe obesity cannot be wished away by a combination of “eating less and moving more”- the science shows that whilst fat is easy to accumulate, it is very difficult to lose, as anyone who has been on a diet (and another diet, and another diet…) will know this. Imagine if there was a safe, reliable, cost-effective way to lose weight and treat diabetes and heart disease…

As a junior surgeon I was trained to treat and remove cancers of the stomach and gullet. These are awful diseases with poor outcomes despite surgery. Clinics were a sobering experience, 62 wirrallife.com

often delivering bad news to frightened patients. However, I did notice a rather unusual clinic across the way from the cancer clinic. It was unusual in that some patients were markedly overweight and some were not- but what struck me was the positive atmosphere, people were happy to be there.

I investigated further and found that this was the bariatric (obesity) surgery clinic. The bariatric clinic was so positive because patients were losing weight and getting cured of their diabetes and other conditions- and that was how I started on my journey to be a bariatric surgeon.

I mainly perform two operations: the gastric bypass (involves creating a small stomach pouch and re-routing the intestines to reduce the amount of food eaten and altering the body’s hormone levels to allow diabetes to enter remission) and the sleeve gastrectomy (removing the outer two-thirds of the stomach to create a much smaller banana shaped stomach that also reduces hunger hormones). These operations are performed through tiny keyhole incisions- nearly all patients can go home after two nights in hospital, even those who weigh 30 stones or more!

Patients will lose around 70% of their extra weight- far in excess of any other treatment. More importantly I expect diabetic patients to go into remission- they will no longer need their diabetic medications! The operations induce profound changes in eating behaviour. This is not just because we have made the stomach smaller but also because the operations change the brain- for example patients can find they have no longer crave chocolate and sweets and prefer healthier food options.

I now have a clinic that is full of happy patients - they tell me the surgery has given them their life back. It is a moving experience- a true privilege as a surgeon.

Mr Magee is on Twitter (@mageefrcs) and can be consulted at Spire Murrayfield Hospital. For more information visit: www.phoenix-health.co.uk

Fast, effective treatments provided by experienced doctors in Liverpool & Wirral.

Advanced Dermal Fillers

Advanced Dermal Fillers

Facial enhancement and volumisation have moved beyond surgical facelifts to an approach, which subtly reshapes and redefines. These techniques allow our doctors to develop an aesthetic treatment plan tailored to individual patient needs and is designed to give a natural look.

Facial enhancement andinjection revitalisation have moved beyond The sequence of specific sites can be adapted dependent on each patient’s profile,surgical facelifts to achieve the optimal outcome. to an approach, which subtly reshapes and redefines. These techniques allow These injections are performed exclusively by Dr Sally-Ann Dolan MB ChB our doctors aesthetic treatment plan tailored to individual or Dr to Ian Rdevelop Jones MB BChan MD FRCP patient needs and is designed to give a natural look.

The sequence of specific injection sites can be adapted dependent on each Call to arrange free consultation patient’s profile, toaachieve the optimal today outcome.

158-160 Banks Road, West Kirby, Wirral, CH48 0RH Tel: 0151 625 8080 24 Rodney Street, Liverpool, L1 2TQ, Tel: 0151 707 3577

These injections are performed ONLY by

Dr Sally-Ann Dolan MB ChB or Dr Ian R Jones MB BCh MD FRCP www.sdsrejuvenate.co.uk

tweedmill.co.uk

STYLING YOU AND YOUR HOME FOR OVER 20 YEARS

FASHION • FOOD & DRINK • HAIR & BEAUTY • HOME & GARDEN • TRAVEL & TOURISM LLANNERCH PARK, ST. ASAPH, LL17 0UY, NORTH WALES (JUST OFF THE A55). TEL: 01745 730072 www.tweedmill.co.uk

WE ARE OPEN ALL OVER THE BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

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SWIMWEAR

BY DEBENHAMS

Reger by Janet Reger Price: £30 Debenhams.com wirrallife.com 65

Butterfly by Matthew Williamson Price: ÂŁ24.00 Debenhams.com

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Floozie by FrostFrench Price : £28.00 Debenhams.com

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SHORT STYLE

BY HOUSE OF FRASER

Paisley print shirt Pretty Green Price: £55.00 Green Chino Shorts Linea Price: £35.00 www.houseoffraser.co.uk

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Dark Pink Chino Shorts Label Lab Price: £35.00 Beige jacket Perry Ellis Price: £135.00 www.houseoffraser.co.uk

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tweedmill.co.uk

STYLING YOU AND YOUR HOME FOR OVER 20 YEARS

FASHION • FOOD & DRINK • HAIR & BEAUTY • HOME & GARDEN • TRAVEL & TOURISM LLANNERCH PARK, ST. ASAPH, LL17 0UY, NORTH WALES (JUST OFF THE A55). TEL: 01745 730072 www.tweedmill.co.uk

WE ARE OPEN ALL OVER THE BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

Fast, effective treatments provided by experienced doctors in Liverpool & Wirral.

Anti-Wrinkle Injections Anti-wrinkle injections (Botulinum Toxin A) are used to reduce overactive muscle movement which can cause deep frown lines and worry lines. This treatment will not dramatically change your facial appearance, but reducing wrinkles will result in a smoother, rejuvenated appearance.

Anti-wrinkle injections can also be used to help reduce excess sweating, medically known as Hyperhidrosis and recently Botulinum Toxin A has been proven to help migraine.

These injections are performed exclusively by Dr Sally-Ann Dolan MB ChB or Dr Ian R Jones MB BCh MD FRCP

Call to arrange a free consultation today 158-160 Banks Road, West Kirby, Wirral, CH48 0RH Tel: 0151 625 8080 24 Rodney Street, Liverpool, L1 2TQ, Tel: 0151 707 3577

www.sdsrejuvenate.co.uk

TRAVEL INSPIRATION

ROAD TRIP HEAVEN: THE CAUSEWAY COASTAL ROUTE IN NORTHERN IRELAND Bringing something inviting and new at every turn of the wheel, the Causeway Coastal Route runs from Belfast to Derry~Londonderry, wonderful bookends to the worldrenowned attractions like the Giants Causeway, the Old Bushmills Distillery and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge that lie on the road between.

Think ‘easy to navigate route’ and a comfortable, relaxed pace – bike, bus and train included – and it’s the perfect recipe for a do as you like indulgence along a long and winding road.

The Antrim coast is about exploring and doing whatever takes your fancy. With an array of scenic drives looping off the main route and as much history, architecture, natural wonder and local culture as you want to take in, the Causeway Coastal Route can be as long as you want it to be.

By day, follow in the footsteps of saints, giants, warriors and poets through the beautiful Glens of Antrim and along the coastline, where man first settled on the island of Ireland.

Then at night duck in to the luxurious city view apartments, secluded B&Bs, hotels, farmhouses, country houses, mountain cottages, beach houses and camping pods that can all be found along the way.

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The road runs over bridges and under arches, past secluded bays and beaches, crazy rock formations, hills and valleys, dramatic scenery and historic sites steeped in myth and legend.

A key stopping point for most is the Giant’s Causeway, the iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognised globally as a geological wonder.

Its highly unusual polygonal basalt columns were formed from a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago – ‘apparently’.

Chat to the locals and get the ‘real’ story… which is that celebrated giant Finn McCool built the Causeway as stepping stones for a walk across the seas to Scotland.

The award-winning Visitor Centre at the site has worldclass ‘imaginative interpretations’ of the area’s mythology, history, geology and biodiversity, as well as souvenir hunting and café areas and a viewing gallery with stunning views of the coastline. There are also superb walking trails along dramatic coastal paths.

A Causeway Coastal Route journey is not to be hurried.

Walking, cycling, surfing, pleasure boating to explore new places, sampling the local food and wine, checking out the local festivals and events – the choice is huge.

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“One of the most heavenly road trips” If there’s time, take the ferry over to a tiny unspoilt island sitting just off the town of Ballycastle. Rathlin Island, population just over 100, is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, alive with rugged scenery, seabird colonies, history, amazing walks and total peace and quiet.

Or stop at the foot of Glenarm, where Glenarm Castle, one of Ireland’s oldest estates reveals splendid walled gardens and vivid blooms. Then take a turn inland to Slemish Mountain, where it is said Saint Patrick tended livestock.

Ask any Antrim local for directions to the Dark Hedges – one of the many Game of Thrones film locations in the area. This spectacular tunnel of beech trees has been growing over the past 300 years and is one of the most photographed sites in Northern Ireland.

Quirky seaside towns and villages may also grab your muse, or a whiskey museum or art galleries… just be ready for the unexpected.

Wild coastal roads bordered by majestic cliffs, mile upon mile of golden sand, surf and solitude, and the scenery of the nine Glens of Antrim, this is one of the most heavenly road trips anywhere.

To find out more, visit www.ireland.com or www.causewaycoastalroute.com wirrallife.com 73

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LORD MAYOR FASHION SHOW

The third Lord Mayor of Liverpool Charity Fashion Show took place at the Devonshire House Hotel.

The event was run through over 40 people donating their services, products or time on the night to enable the event to happen. Special thanks went to all the models, the donors of the raffle prizes including Hope St Hotel, Silverberg Optician, Art School Restaurant and Andrew Joseph Manion Hairdressing whose stylist along with Emmaculate Studios make up artists made the models look fabulous.

On the catwalk were new label Make Do and Mend with a 50’s land girls look and for the 2nd year the delightful designs from Kaftan Heaven and the talented students from Holly Lodge Girls College - The Madhatters. The programme also included the incredibly talented dancers and artists from Jelli Studios (theatre school), the vocally adept and talented band Myth of Unity and the artist Sofia Spencer sang and compered the show to success. A great night was had by all and all monies raised on the night were added to the Lord Mayors 2016/17 Charity Fund supporting the Liverpool charities: Heartbeat, R Charity, Tom Harrison House and Claire House.

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PATRONS VISIT THE HIVE YOUTH ZONE Prior to the grand opening, some of Wirral Youth Zone’s capital and revenue supporters were treated to a unique tour of the £6m facility by young people who are set to step foot in it.

Capital supporters including Bibby Line, The Johnson Foundation, UBS, Wirral Council and St James’ Place Foundation joined many of The Hive’s 20 Founder Patron’s for a night to remember at The Hive.

Chairman John Syvret CBE, whose business, Cammell Laird, also support the project as a Founder Patron was one of many who received a plaque in honour of their support from young people.

The Hive has cost £6m to build and will cost £1million per year to run and this will be funded through a combination of public sector and private sector funding. For more information about becoming a founder patron please contact: kate.thomas@thehiveyouthzone.org.

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THE HIVE LAUNCH Saturday 8th April marked the biggest day in the racing calendar, but in the lives of thousands of young people across Wirral, Grand National Day will be remembered as the day The Hive, Wirral Youth Zone opened its doors for the first time.

After years of hard work from national charity OnSide Youth Zones from shaking hands with Wirral Council to the spade hitting the ground back in December 2015 and the dramatic countdown of building milestones, Wirral Youth Zone has come a long way. The final furlong was reached and The Hive’s doors opened to welcome hundreds of young people and their families.

The opening day kicked off at 1pm as families flocked down to Bright Street in Birkenhead to take advantage of the top-class facilities from a 4G football pitch, four court sports hall, iconic climbing wall, fully fitted gym, skate park, music room, media room, arts and crafts areas, dance studio and even a boxing gym and recording studio.

As well as the all-action, fun-packed young people lead day, the official ceremony including the cutting of the ribbon by Youth Zone Chairman and Head of Cammell Laird, John Syvret CBE took place alongside partners Wirral Council, young people and The Hive’s first volunteer. The foursome represented the four-way partnership approach in the project - the private sector, public sector, local community and young people. The giant ‘Hive’ cake really did put the icing on the cake!

Following the opening ceremony, the first Senior, Junior and Inclusion sessions took place with hundreds now set to continue their young journey into Wirral Youth Zone on a daily basis.

MAXI ROY ‘NOBLE ART’ MEMORIAL BOXING TOURNAMENT Leasowe Castle Hotel was the stunning venue for the second Maxi Roy ‘Noble Art’ Memorial Boxing Tournament hosted

by Wallasey Amateur Club on Thursday 13th April.

The historic location and grand architecture lent itself to the formal black tie charity sporting event. The evening of remembrance & friendship was opened with a military drum role and sobering rendition of the last post. All boxers were drummed into the ring by the Neston Air Cadet squadron band masters Flt Sgt Powell and Sgt Eeles. The quality of boxing was outstanding and the atmosphere nerve tingling as eleven contests of the highest calibre entertained an enthusiastic audience. All boxers displaying outstanding skill, determination, sportsmanship and camaraderie.

The Maxi Roy ‘Noble Art’ Best Boxer of the evening was presented to Chris Green. The event was supported by The Lord Mayor of Liverpool Councillor Roz Gladden, her consort Roy Gladden and the Lady Mayoress Michelle O’ Dwyer. The trophies were presented by John Smurthwaite Chairman of Merseyside and Cheshire ABA. Event organiser and Wallasey ABC Chairman Liam Hanlon said ‘This is a very worthwhile and fulfilling event in bringing together a number of local businesses, charities and community organisations in support of the valuable work being done by the club in engaging with the young people in our community through the fantastic sport of amateur boxing’. The fundraising continued with raffle prizes donated by event sponsors and supporters from the Leasowe Castle Hotel, The Lord Mayors office, Liverpool Heartbeat, tri-4-life, The Forshaw Group Ltd and Wallasey ABC and the entertainment carried on into the early hours with top local group Rigsby’s Cat. Wallasey ABC would like to thanks everyone involved for their support in delivering an exceptional show in strengthening all that is great about our sport, club and community.

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PITCHING

by Tom Atkinson, PGA Pro - Heswall Golf Club

Pitching, the pro’s bread and butter. They hit it long and then pitch it close. You can also pitch it close but you will need to practice.

If you watched the Masters earlier this month you will have noticed how good the distance control was.

The experienced pro’s were pitching it exact yardages to best use the huge slopes on the greens.

When you work on your pitching the most important number is the carry distance, not the total distance.

Why if you know exactly how far away the hole is?

Because of changing conditions, one of the beauties of golf is having to adapt to what’s in front of you.

A 70 yard pitch in the winter is likely to have to carry 70 yards. That same pitch in the summer may only need to fly 50 yards, as there will be more bounce and roll once it lands.

Work on 3 concrete yardages and get a suitable club and swing for those. For me, these yardages are 50, 70 and 85 yards. I know exactly how to carry the ball to these numbers, if I have 60, I can adapt my swing by feel, the same goes for 90 and so on and so forth.

The pitching swing doesn’t need to be complicated, I teach the pitch shot as a ‘hinge and hold’. Play the ball from just in front of your sternum, turn away with your trunk, hinge the wrists sufficiently for the leverage needed and then hold that shape through the ball.

For lessons or more information on availability: Tom Atkinson PGA Head Golf Professional Heswall Golf Club Wirral, Ch60 8Pb 01513427431 www.heswallgolfshop.com @heswallgolfshop

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Leica Q

The Compact Camera RedeĂžned www.leicastoremanchester.com

10 St. Anns Arcade St Anns Square Manchester M2 7HW 0161 834 7755

Full Frame - 35mm-format 24 Million Pixel Sensor - Fixed 28mm f/1.7 Summilux-ASPH Lens https://www.leicastoremanchester.com/collections/q-camera

LEICA: AN ICONIC HISTORY

by Stuart Rayson

The Napalm Girl - Kim Phuc, then and now with Nick Ut who captured the powerful image.

For more than 100 years, famous photographers from around the world have chosen Leica as their camera of choice. From documenting war zones, to photographing the famous, Leica cameras have been used to capture some of the most iconic and historical images of the last century.

Since the release of the Leica M3 at Photokina in 1954, every single M-System camera has represented the pinnacle of innovation for its day. Defined by what is essential for photography. Leica embodies this passion for quality, craftsmanship and its philosophy of photography until today. More than 60 years of rangefinder expertise, 11 years of digital M-Camera development and invaluable feedback from dedicated M-Photographers have inspired Leica engineers to create the slimmest digital M of all time: the Leica M10.

History can be written…and history can be photographed.

When, in 1914, the Leica Camera was invented was by Oskar Barnack, it was seen as many as a toy. The engineer had defected from rival optics manufacturer Zeiss, to lead the experimental department at 74 wirrallife.com 84 wirrallife.com

Leitz. He called his new invention ‘the Micro Lilliput Camera’, and it was unique for its use of cine film in creating a still image. However, with the outbreak of the war, it wasn’t until the return of peace in 1925 that his invention was refined enough to be sold in shops as a camera, where it was firstly marketed briefly as the ‘Barrack’, before becoming named as the ‘Leica’, the name we all recognise today - an abrievation of ‘Leitz’ and ‘camera’.

With its compact size, simplicity and speed, it helped pave the way for modern photography as we know it - being fast, discreet and agile, the Leica camera quickly became popular with photojournalists around the world. Often at first only seen in war zones, as tastes changed over time the Leica camera subsequently became popular within fashion and portraiture as less formal photographic styles became more popular.

Today, the Leica Camera is seen not only as a photographic tool, but also as a luxury item, synonymous with hand made German design and optical quality that surpasses most other optics in the world. And for many modern day photographers, the Leica camera still remains a machine they can trust, one that is beautiful to use, whose quality is second to none.

Few brands hold such esteem in photographic history as Leica.

David Stephens MD of LSM with signed print of Napalm Girl

Widely used throughout the mid-to-late 20th century by, among others, the ‘father of photojournalism’ Henri Cartier Bresson. The Queen is known to shoot with a Leica, as is the Press photographer Nick Ut, famed for his photograph of the Napalm girl, a photo which is said to have changed the direction of the Vietnam war.

For the opening of Leica Store Manchester, we were honoured to be joined by both the Leica photographer Nick Ut and Phan Thi Kim Phuc, the girl who was photographed by Nick in the now famous ‘Napalm Girl’ photo of June 8th, 1972, taken during the height of the Vietnam war. Nick and Kim have since become lifelong friends, with Kim working tirelessly in overcoming her injuries to promote and support the charity that she founded - The Kim Foundation, a charity which helps to support the children of war. She is an amazing person, so positive and bright, whose life has been shaped by both ‘that photograph’ and her injuries sustained on that fateful day.

Nick and Kim kindly provided a signed print of the Napalm Girl photograph for the Leica Manchester store, with Nick also signing a specially commissioned Leica X2 camera. Leica Store Manchester will be auctioning both the print and the camera at the Westlicht Auction in Vienna on June 10th 2017, with all the proceeds, including all the sellers fees (kindly waived by Peter Coeln), being donated to The Kim Foundation, to support Kim’s quest in helping children of today affected by the horrors of war around the world.

Leica Store Manchester has a long history of providing Leica cameras, service and equipment to photographers both within the UK and around the world. We pride ourselves in providing you, the photographer, with high quality Leica equipment that suits both your purpose and needs. We stock a wide range of Leica cameras to suit all abilities and budgets, from the compact Leica C camera, to the professional Leica M series of rangefinder cameras and the Medium Format Leica S. We also stock, service and sell the classic Leica film cameras, many of which have been used to capture the iconic images that define the history of the last century.

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Wirral Life Photography in association with Leica Store Manchester BRIEF 5: WIRRAL ARCHITECTURE GOLD: PAUL ASHTON

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GOLD: CHRIS FOSTER

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BRIEF 5: WIRRAL ARCHITECTURE

SILVER: DAVID FLOWER

SILVER: PAUL ASHTON

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SILVER: JAN PEDDIE

SILVER: JAN PEDDIE

BRONZE: ANDREW CROTHALL

THANKS TO ALL OF OUR ENTRANTS. BRIEF 6: WIRRAL FLORA NEW SHOTS ONLY. DEADLINE: MAY 5. SEND TO editorial@wirrallife.com 3 SUBMISSIONS PER ENTRANT (NO PHONES AND NO PHOTOSHOP). GOOD LUCK! wirrallife.com 89

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CARS & COFFEE

BY NORMAN SHUM

Shot by Si Hall and Rouge Tahir

The weather forecast was kind to Cars and Coffee Liverpool for most of the morning, the threatening cloudy skies which would have made fellow car lovers apprehensive about dragging their ‘just polished’ metal from their protective cocoon garages. But the meeting soon swung into action with the sound of David Espley’s 1972 Alfa GT junior V6. C&CL have always had a list of dealers and manufacturers supporting each meeting, but this month we are proud to announce the new endorsement from Alexanda Cook Development Director of BMW Williams Group. A series of promotional M Powered performance and iElectric cars were demonstrated to the local car enthusiast, plus for the children - a taste of the future - the shape of things to come.

The Liverpool Lord Mayor Roz Gladden and consort Roy Gladden made yet another appearance here at Cars and Coffee Liverpool. To support the Chosen Charity - Tom Harrison Foundation (for local war veterans - we raised £263.53 in 2 hours). The time - served soldiers were charming and humble as usual serving their charity from the crack of dawn.

Cllr Roy Gladden seemed to be facinated by the electric cars here at the meetings especially Tesla, but the BMW i8 was the car of choice for him, because of the sleek futuristic design and the impressive 310 mile range on a full charge.

The Chung Ku Restaurant this time formed the backdrop for a stunning radiant orange Datsun 240z parked head to head with Stephen Johansen’s full blown Volkswagen Polo Cup racecar - Speedworks BTCC Team, kindly transported to show us before the race season starts (seeking another sponsor this year). You could say retro meets motorsport on the front steps of the entrance.

What comes to mind when you think of Martin Scorsese’s legendary classic - Goodfellas with Di Niro, Liota and Pesci? Well, the movie’s actual star was a 1975 Lincoln Continental IV in metallic dark brown. It boasts the ‘modern’ pop up lights, the long bonnet coupe styling and it’s lavish, yet outlandishly huge front seat - the size of an American sofa. The Lincoln Continental is a series of luxury cars produced by Lincoln - an American division of Ford.

But this particular generation of Continental is favored by collectors and has appeared in many classic movies, such as Goldfinger, The Matrix, Last Action Hero, Kalifornia, Spider-Man and Animal House.

As usual, the sheer variety of vehicles this month was really interesting.

There were many greats from the Ford Owners Club, Lotus Espirit Turbos, a Lancias Stratos Rally car and even a pair of retroed Mk1 Honda Civics.

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Shot on a Leica TL by Melvyn Hamid

Lamborghini at Geneva Motorshow

by David Gidman

Since 1964 the Geneva Motorshow has been the main stage for Lamborghini to reveal their newest creations and 2017 did not let us down.

Firstly, Lamborghini revealed to the world - the new ‘Aventador S’ which has had a subtle but useful change to the exterior panels increasing down force by a whopping 130%. Power has been increased by 40 horses and they have added the amazing ‘4 Wheel steering’, which is a first for Lamborghini.

4-wheel steering give’s the Aventador S extreme agility, handling and coupled with their new LDVA (Lamborghini Active Vehicle Dynamics) EGO mode gives it unprecedented driving dynamics. Fact.

Lamborghini also revealed the new Huracan Performante which recently destroyed the lap record at the Nurburgring, battering the Porsche 918 by 5 seconds - with the help of Lamborghini’s new tricky active aerodynamics ALA (Aerodynamic Lamborghini Active). The car on the stand was finished in Matt Orange officially called ‘Arianco Anthaeus’ which is only available on the Performante at a cost of £11,000. The Matt Orange really shows of the new ‘Forged Composite’ spoilers and was complimented by the new bronze forged lightweight alloy wheels which match the bronze engine rocker covers, which came from the legendary 30th Anniversary Lamborghini Diablo. Lamborghini also had the new 2-wheel drive Huracan Spyder LP580/2 finished in ‘Grigio Nimbus’ which nearly completes the Huracan family giving customers the widest choice of variant’s available in this sector. There are now 5 variants of the Huracan which will increase to 6 next year with the introduction of the Performante Spyder.

Like the guys from Wirral Life, if you were lucky enough to have access to the Lamborghini VIP area then you were in for a real treat, as there was a stunning Huracan Performante finished in Grigio Titans (Matt Grey). As you walked up the stairs to the VIP area this car immediately demanded your awe. It got most customers reaching for their credit cards to place the £12,000 deposit required to get them on the 12-month waiting list. Must check those lotto numbers.

For more information: call David Gidman at H.R.Owen Lamborghini Manchester on 0161 474 6730 or email David.Gidman@hrowen.co.uk 94 wirrallife.com

The Huracan Performante has annihilated the Porsche 918 hypercar at the Nurburgring, destroying it’s record by 5 full seconds.

Not bad for a quarter of the price!

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RANGE ROVER EVOQUE HSE DYNAMIC

by Tony Yates

We all know that some consider the original Range Rover to be the best 4x4 on the market and it has been this way for many years – but as a motoring journalist - this does cause me a bit of a problem every time I test a newer version of these incredible machines – because, I always end up writing the same final sentence that I did when I tested the previous model – which is; ‘The Range Rover is utterly brilliant in every single way’.

Now, I know you won’t all agree - because over the last few years, we have been constantly banging on about saving the planet so much that suddenly everybody is wanting something a little bit smaller and that little bit more economical. So, for all of you who don’t want a full size Range Rover, then you are in luck – because this month I’ve just tested the Evoque HSE Dynamic.

Power and Efficiency My test car was fitted with a brilliant 180HP - 2.0L TD4 diesel engine and a 9-speed automatic transmission along with 430Nm of torque which is more than enough grunt to pretty much pull anything that takes your fancy. Fuel consumption is also good achieving around 49mpg. Flat out you can expect to achieve a max speed of 121mph and a 0-62 time of around 9.7sec. For those of you who are all about emissions – the Evoque easily comes in at around 149g/km, which will also help you save a few more pennies in road tax charges.

On & Off-Road The Evoque does off-road brilliantly! No matter how rubbish you are on the muddy stuff; it just keeps going. All you really have to do is arrive at a boggy field – press a few buttons and off you go, it really is that simple.

It’s the same when you have the Evoque on the tarmac too. To be honest though, I have no concept of what Low or High Range means or what a diff lock actually does - and I certainly have no idea how any of this works. What I know about off-road, you could write on a match head.

This of course is not uncommon, because I have one friend who has a Range Rover and the other who has a Discovery - and both have about 96 wirrallife.com

the same knowledge as me when it comes to off-road. One thing we all do agree on though is that if you do buy a Range Rover or a Land Rover, it will be brilliant.

On the road, the Evoque is a peach to drive, there is plenty of feedback through the wheel, and with those 20” wheels - it’s glued firmly to the road without impacting on ride comfort or overall refinement and that’s just on the road – let alone what this machine can do once you get on the dirt.

Of course I am not blind to all the other 4X4’s on the market – some of which can be just as good off-road as a Range Rover and are in one way or another - equal in its ability to do clever things. But, and here it comes – if you were suddenly told today you needed to go out and buy a 4X4 for your next trip to the Amazon rain forest – would you really go out and buy something like a BMW X5 or an Audi Q7 - or would you do the sensible thing and head straight for something made by Land Rover?

Safety and Technology The Evoque HSE also comes with a host of significantly enhanced features including; Xenon headlamps, heated windscreen, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, front and rear parking sensors, In-Control Touch Navigation with 10.2-inch touchscreen, DAB radio, Meridian 10-speaker sound system, lane departure warning, rear view camera, Airbags – side curtain, driver and front passenger, Plus; Autonomous Emergency Braking, Terrain Response, Hill Descent Control and Dynamic Stability Control.

As for the interior, you get nearly everything you’d expect from a full size Range Rover inside the Evoque which includes comfortable and luxurious seating as well as an interior made from some of the finest quality materials that you just wouldn’t find in a normal car.

To sum up: You guessed it; ‘Like all Range Rovers, the Evoque is utterly brilliant in every single way’.

Price from: £43,200 OTR

‘If you love Range Rovers, you’ll love this’.

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