Wirral Life August 2017

WIRRAL LIFE

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

THE ADVENTURER LIAM HANLON

PROPERTY • MOTORS • FASHION & BEAUTY • FOOD & DRINK

The ultimate relaxing music mix

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WIRRAL LIFE

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WIRRAL’S No.1 FREE PREMIUM LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

EDITORS Welcome to Wirral Life Magazine.

We hope you are all enjoying your summer so far!

This month, we have an interview with local business person and organiser of the Across Mersey Swim, Liam Hanlon, who shares with us his life story, passion for adventure and love of open water swimming.

Wirral resident and celebrity hairdresser Peter Collinge celebrates his 90th Birthday this month, so we look back at some iconic moments and images from his illustrious career. We also have our regular features including a food review of The Lawns restaurant at Thornton Hall Hotel, society pages and photo competition winners.

Wirral Life is now distributed to over 90 locations. However, if you would like to subscribe to receive your free magazine via post for a small postage and packaging fee, sign up at: www.wirrallife.com/subscribe.

Si Hall Nicky Rigby-Smith FEATURE WRITERS

Andrew Collinge: Hair Lynne Hague: Lifestyle David Green: Whisky Carl Housbey: Food John & Steve Muff: Food Les Bell: Food Tony Yates: Cars David Gidman: Cars Joel Jelen: Wellbeing Andrew Wood: History Conor Magee: Medical Norman Shum: Cars and Coffee Richard Sanderson: Veterinary Richard Gibson: Dentistry Annabel Birtles: Beauty Alison Quinn: Beauty Swasie Turner: Features

OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER:

Enjoy Wirral Life!

Si Hall & Nicky Rigby-Smith

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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

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IN THIS ISSUE

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40 INTERVIEWS 22. Liam Hanlon FEATURES 12. Royal Marines Band Service 30. Peter Collinge 90th Birthday 72. Newborn Photography FOOD & DRINK 36. The Butchers Cut 38. The Lawns 40. Gastro Grazer PROPERTY 46. Editor Choice Properties FASHION & BEAUTY 56. Andrew Collinge 58. Swimwear TRAVEL 69. The Gold Coast

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BUSINESS 74. Wirral Business Awards 82. Fancy Fizz

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SOCIETY 84. Taperell Party 86. LFC Legends 87. Summer Strum 2017 88. Whitfield Business Hub BBQ 89. Wirral Chamber of Commerce 92. Wirral Historic Vehicle Rally 94. Andrew Collinge 95. Neston Cricket Marquee Week 96. The British Style Collective HISTORY, ARTS & CULTURE 70. Bebington Below the Skin 98. Photo Competition MOTOR 106. Ford Mustang 108. Lamborghini at Goodwood DIRECTORY wirrallife.com 5

I n t ro d u c i n g O u r N e w F u n c t i o n Ro o m

the cristal suite

t hor n to nha l l hot e l . c o m / w e ddi ng s

Neston Road, Thornton Hough, Wirral CH63 1JF 0151 336 3938 | thorntonhallhotel.com

IN BRIEF CHARITY CARNIVAL HAILED A HUGE SUCCESS

A carnival held by a Neston-based children’s charity to thank the local community for supporting it for the last 30 years has been hailed a huge success after more than 5,500 people flocked to the event.

The fun day, held at Neston Cricket Club in Parkgate, also helped to raise awareness of charity Northern Lights – as well as raising thousands of pounds. Northern Lights enables hundreds of children with life-limiting illnesses to experience holidays of a lifetime. The charity says its incredible achievements would not have been possible without the help and support of the local community. More than 500 children have enjoyed special trips, mainly to Lapland, since the charity was set up in 1987 – with more than £800,000 being raised during that time. The carnival saw Neston Cricket Club transformed with more than 70 stalls including crafts, street food, re-enactment history displays, police and fire brigade and a vintage caravan photo booth, as well as performers and musicians.

Among those attending the carnival was little James Hart, nine, from Irby, Wirral. James, who suffers from type 1 diabetes, enjoyed a magical trip to Lapland in December 2016 thanks to Northern Lights.

James, who was at the carnival with his family and cockerpoo Ted, said: “It was amazing at Lapland, I loved it. I saw Father Christmas, reindeer and the elf academy.” James’ dad, David Hart said: “Northern Lights charity is absolutely fantastic and we can’t thank them enough.

James has had a tough time in and out of hospital since he was diagnosed when he was just six. When James went off to Lapland we were a bit nervous but we received regular updates and a film of James’ experiences which is a wonderful thing to have.”

Karen Jones, chair of Northern Lights, a recipient of a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, said: “We have been blown away by the success of the carnival. Our aim was to offer a heartfelt thanks to the local community for their support during the past three decades and we put on a show that everyone really enjoyed. It was good to see families, often three generations, taking time out and relaxing in the sunshine.” To find out more or even volunteer your support visit www.northernlightscharity.org.uk.

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BIRKENHEAD SCHOOL STUDENTS TOUR THE WORLD

Students at Birkenhead School have enjoyed a spectacular summer of travel experiences with tours of Barbados and Catalonia.

A group of cricketers had the opportunity of a lifetime as they spent two weeks in Barbados, playing matches as part of the Sir Garry Sobers Cricket Tournament. The students were able to meet and play cricket with teams from Trinidad and Tobego, Guyana and Barbados, while taking advantage of the stunning surroundings and fantastic weather. They were also able to experience the local culture and tourist attractions, including a glass bottom boat trip, an island safari and surfing lessons.

Musicians at the School visited Catalonia for a week of performances at a variety of prestigious venues across the region. Pupils aged 11 to 18 took part in concerts at Girona Cathedral, Montserrat Abbey and at venues in Cunit and Calafell, where the Chapel Choir showcased pieces by Haydn, Mozart and Rutter sharing their evocative sound to appreciative local audiences. In addition, the group had the opportunity to visit Barcelona’s world renowned La Sagrada Família by Gaudi, and also the Salvador Dalí Museum in Figueres.

These trips are just a few of the experiences available to students at Birkenhead School, who this year also saw a group visit Canada for a skiing holiday, and twenty girls interested in STEM subjects visit NASA in Texas.

Birkenhead School’s next open day is Saturday 23rd September 2017 from 11am to 2pm where all children looking at Senior education are welcome to attend and discover more about life and learning in an inspirational, independent environment. Birkenhead School offers education from 3 months to 18 years and welcome visitors at any time.

To find out more: call 0151 651 4014, email enquire@birkenheadschool. co.uk, or visit www.birkenheadschool.co.uk

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MERSEYSIDE’S PART IN THE MEETING THAT WAS THE MAKING OF WILFRED OWEN

STROKE SURVIVOR HOSTS FUNDRAISING EVENT

A young stroke survivor from the Wirral is raising vital funds for the Stroke Association with a fundraising evening on Saturday 9th September 2017.

Wilfred Owen was born in Oswestry but spent the longest period of his life in Birkenhead. He was educated at the prestigious Birkenhead Institute and it was there that his passion for poetry was ignited.

His gift for poetry found its voice when he enlisted in The Great War, but he may have remained unknown if it were not for a fateful meeting with his hero exactly 100 years ago. In early August 1917, Wilfred was sent to Craiglockhart Hospital near Edinburgh suffering from shell-shock after several horrendous experiences on the Western Front. His meeting here with Siegfried Sassoon MC turned Wilfred into arguably the world’s most famous soldier poet. Siegfried, an accepted and established poet, was delighted to have found someone with whom he could discuss, recite and read poetry. He took an instant liking to Wilfred, noting that ‘he spoke with a slight stammer, not surprising given his shell-shocked condition’, and was ‘an interesting little chap’ with ‘a charming honest smile’, ‘perceptibly provincial’. Both men were under the care of Dr William Rivers. Rivers had recently been transferred from The Maghull Military Hospital near Liverpool, where Wilfred Owen had been a patient that spring. Sassoon had also been in Liverpool at Litherland Army Barracks (four miles from Maghull), where he was putting the finishing touches to his infamous letter of protest against the war. Sassoon later wrote, “As I remember Wilfred during those three months we spent together at Craiglockhart, he was consistently cheerful. He edited “The Hydra”, the hospital magazine. It is worth noting that it was only through my urgent instigation that Owen printed a short poem of his own.” The earliest draft of Wilfred’s most famous poem Anthem For Doomed Youth dates from this time and was heavily influenced by Sassoon. After the war, Siegfried threw his MC medal into the River Mersey as a tribute to his gifted friend who had started his love affair with words at nearby Birkenhead. A new exhibition celebrating this remarkable event, created by local historian Lucy London, has just opened at The Wilfred Owen Story. It also features a special audio recreation read by Mark Reed (son of the late great Oliver Reed). Admission is free. For further information contact: Dean Johnson on 07539 371925 or email info@wilfredowenstory.com

Danielle Pownall, 30, has organised the event at Poulton Victoria Sports and Social Club in Wallasey at 7:30pm. Danielle was inspired to fund raise for the charity after she had a spinal stroke in August 2014, when she was nine weeks pregnant.

Danielle was in an induced coma for 12 days and paralysed from the neck down. Once she awoke, Danielle’s movement gradually improved each day, and fortunately her baby was unharmed. Four weeks after her stroke, and thirteen weeks into her pregnancy, she slowly walked out of the hospital. Danielle’s daughter, Isla May, is now two years old. Danielle is working on her physiotherapy to improve the weakness in her left leg, and her husband, Tom, and mother help to care for her baby, Isla. At the fundraising evening, guests can enjoy performances from singer Alan Triggs and a DJ, as well as a raffle, sweet cart and purple cupcakes. Danielle has also designed her own hoodies to help raise awareness of stroke, which have raised £150.

Danielle said: “I want people to know that a stroke can happen to anyone, of any age. I’m keen to show how important it is to remain positive; there is life after stroke. After the support I received from the Stroke Association, I’m keen to raise funds to help others get the support they need. I’d love people in the Wirral to come along and support the evening and help raise money for this cause that is close to my heart”.

Sian Thomas, Community and Events Fundraiser at the Stroke Association, said “With around 100,000 strokes in the UK each year, it’s vital we have people like Danielle to help raise vital funds.

We’re incredibly grateful to Danielle for her all of her support. At the Stroke Association we want to be there for everyone affected by a stroke, and the funds raised by Danielle at her fundraising event will help make this a reality.”

Tickets are available on the door for £5 per person. For more information about stroke, contact the Helpline on: 0303 30 33 100 or visit www.stroke.org.uk.

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IN BRIEF FIRST WORLD WAR HERO’S MEDALS COME TO LIVERPOOL

BEATTIE’S EX-EMPLOYEES TO REUNITE FOR CHARITY

Chavsse © IWM

Calling all ex-employees of Beatties Department store in Birkenhead - did you work at Beatties any time in the last 40 years?

The medals of Captain Noel Chavasse, the only serviceman to be awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) twice during the First World War, go on display at the Museum of Liverpool until 5 January 2018.

Timed to coincide with the centenary of the Third Battle of Ypres, Passchendaele (31 July 1917), it is the first time this important medal group, on loan from Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC, has gone on public display in Liverpool, the family’s home from 1900. The medals will also be on display for the centenary of Chavasse’s death (4 August 1917).

Janet Dugdale, Director of the Museum of Liverpool, said: “The name ‘Chavasse’ is forever associated with heroism and courage thanks to the actions of Noel, and other members of the family, during the First World War. In unimaginably appalling conditions, Captain Chavasse saved the lives of many of his men, losing his own as a consequence in 1917.

This group of medals tells a powerful story of the extremes of human sacrifice. We’re extremely proud to be bringing them to Liverpool on the centenary of his death.”

Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC, who owns the largest collection of VCs in the world, said: “I am absolutely delighted that the medal group of Captain Noel Chavasse VC & Bar, MC is going to be on display at the Museum of Liverpool, in the city where both he and his family had such significant links. It is entirely appropriate that the centenary of Captain Chavasse’s death should be marked in this way.”

“I feel privileged and humbled to be the custodian of this courageous man’s gallantry and service medals. Captain Chavasse deserves his unique position in history as the only ‘double VC’ of the Great War and his military career has come to epitomise self-sacrifice. As Captain Chavasse himself put is so succinctly as he lay dying: ‘Duty called, and called me to obey’.”

For more information, visit www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/Chavasse 10 wirrallife.com

If so you are invited to a very special reunion evening which is being held on Saturday 4th November at Heswall British Legion. This event is the brainchild of former employees Sue Mosedale, Shirley Unsworth, Julie Lewis, Anne Kelly and Jan Dolman who were involved in the hugely successful fundraising campaign which was held 20 years ago when for a whole year all employees took part in a wide variety of events from treasure hunts to race nights. This culminated in a final gala evening when a cheque for a magnificent £11,000 was presented to The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation - the charity chosen by the staff. Beatties was a prominent store in the town for over 30 years and the charity year was supported by both local businesses and their many loyal customers.

So this anniversary year is to be celebrated by reuniting old friends, gathering together as many former Beatties employees as possible, and raising some money for the Roy Castle charity again. All exemployees and their partners are invited to this event, so if you worked at Beatties and would like to catch up with old friends and colleagues get in touch via email on beattiesreunionnov@gmail.com Tickets are £10 (to include buffet, disco and raffle) and will be available to purchase online or from Roy Castle shops in Heswall (Castle Buildings), Moreton and Liscard and also from Whitmore & White, Pensby Road, Heswall.

WIRRAL AUTHOR EXPLORES THE BREXIT PHENOMENON IN POIGNANT NEW FICTION: CATCH 52 After three decades of serving as a police officer in the inner-city areas of Liverpool, P.G. Ronane retired and decided to go back to school, run for office and travel the European continent. Now 61, he is an education manager living in Wirral with his family. This is his first book.

Catch 52: An Everyman’s Tale of Surviving in a post-Brexit World by PG Ronane (published by Clink Street Publishing in paperback and ebook) will be available to purchase from online retailers including Amazon and to order from all good bookstores.

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AZURE CHARITY BALL RAISES £30,000

CHARITY URGENTLY APPEAL FOR MORE VOLUNTEERS Contact the Elderly, the only national charity solely dedicated to tackling loneliness and isolation amongst older people through face-to-face contact, is urgently appealing for volunteers living in the Wirral to spare just a few hours each month to help with the running of local tea parties – and enjoy a cuppa and a cake themselves!

Luxury travel company - The Azure Collection, held its annual charity ball last week, raising almost £30,000 for four charities.

The ball was held at the Chester Grosvenor Hotel and was attended by 190 guests, many of whom came from Chester and the Wirral while others travelled from as far away as the Isle of Man and London.

Four charities will benefit from the funds raised at this event. Amy & Friends was founded ten years ago to June 2007 to support children and families who suffer from the rare medical conditions Cockayne Syndrome/TTD or related DNA repair disorders; the Hospice Of The Good Shepherd provides palliative care for residents of Cheshire West, Chester and Deeside; Claire House Children’s Hospice gives respite and end- of-life care for children and young adults with life-limiting medical conditions while The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity funds vital research, equipment and support services that would otherwise be unavailable to cancer patients, ranging from new innovations in cancer treatment to fun days out for teenagers and wigs for patients affected by hair loss.

The charity aims to relieve the acute loneliness of isolated older people, aged 75 and over who live alone, by organising free monthly Sunday afternoon tea parties for small groups within local communities – providing a regular and vital friendship link every month. Each older guest is collected from their home by a volunteer driver and is taken to a volunteer host’s home, where they join a small group for tea, chat and companionship. While the charity has been able to launch groups within The Wirral already, relatively low numbers of volunteer drivers has meant that the groups are limited in the number of older people who are able to join. The charity are hoping to recruit more volunteer drivers who are able to collect older guests from their homes and accompany them to the gathering each month, taking them safely home again afterwards. Wirral residents interested in volunteering for Contact the Elderly once a month as a driver can contact Prabina Lord-Doyle, Development Officer on 0161 460 2950.

WIRRAL ARTS FESTIVAL

In line with the Hollywood Glamour theme of the charity ball, guests were given the full red carpet treatment on arrival, and entered into the spirit of the evening by sporting black ties and glamorous gowns.

Everyone was welcomed with drinks and music from the forty piece Singme Merseyside Choir, which has supported the ball for the past three years. An added sprinkle of magic was provided by magician, Iain Moran. After a three course dinner, there was a live auction, with the chance to bid for a selection of dream holidays to some of the word’s most desirable locations, courtesy of The Azure Collection.

The evening closed with a performance by 4 piece band called The Electric Idols, while everyone danced the night away.

Azure Collection MD Jayne O’ Gorman said ‘Huge thanks to everyone who supported this very special event. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening and it’s a privilege to be able to help the four charities which do such valuable work.’

The Wirral Arts Festival is an annual two week celebration of a wide range of arts and related activities for young and old which takes place across local venues in the town of Heswall and on the Wirral.

Previously known as the Heswall Arts Festival, it is now in its 7th year. The 2016 Festival showcased musicians, actors, artists and poets; an arts trail, folk groups, scarecrows as well as the more conventional performing arts. The Festival comprised more than 60 events that brought together 400 performers and 5000 visitors. This year the Festival will be held between 30th September and 14th October.

To find out more, visit www.wirralartsfestival.co.uk . wirrallife.com 11

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WIRRAL LIFE TALK TO NICK GRACE OBE, PRINCIPAL DIRECTOR OF MUSIC OF THE ROYAL MARINES BAND SERVICE Established as one of the most revered military bands in the world, The Royal Marines Band Service is an organisation synonymous with musical excellence. The Bands travel across the country and throughout the world not only delivering first-rate musical concerts, but being the public face of the Naval Service, combining military duties with a professional music career. No one knows this better than the Principal Director or Music of the Royal Marines Band Service, Lieutenant Colonel Nick Grace OBE. Before joining the Royal Marines Band Service at 17-years old, Grace was initially taught music by his mother, a primary and junior school teacher, who Nick describes as “the most influential person in my musical life.” His musical career continued to flourish when he started playing the euphonium in the Staffordshire County Youth Brass and Wind bands. Since then, he has climbed the ranks of the Royal Marines Band Service and has become one of its most influential figures.

As Principal Director of Music, Lieutenant Colonel Grace says that it is his aim to, “lead an organisation with a worldwide reputation, which is second to none, in delivering musical support to the Naval Service, Defence and for State Ceremonial occasions.” His aim, he says, is to continue to improve the quality of musical excellence in the Royal Marines and to “ensure that military music remains relevant today and into the future.”

The Royal Marines Band Service’s relevance today, and its continuation in the future, is reliant on its ability to support those in the Naval Service. As such, the collaboration between the Band and The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) remains mutually beneficial and extremely important. Lieutenant Colonel Grace recognises this and encourages the continuing relationship between

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the band and the charity. Speaking about the connection to the RNRMC, Grace explains: “It is hugely important to have a strong relationship between the Band Service and the RNRMC. The charity provides a massive amount of support to the members of the Royal Navy and Royal Marine both past and present, their families and dependants that could not continue without the generation donations given by the general public.”

An upcoming concert by the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Portsmouth at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall will exemplify the robust relationship between the RNRMC and the Royal Marines Band. The concert, which takes place on Saturday 30th September, will showcase a varied repertoire with something for everyone: traditional marches, a classic overture, solos, a little bit of Pink Floyd and music from celebrated Broadway musicals. For Lieutenant Colonel Grace, the evening promises a night of “great variety, quality and pure entertainment.” It is also, as Grace points out, a “celebration of 100-years of Women in the Royal Navy” which will include a traditional finale of Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory.

This magnificent spectacle at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall will help raise vital funds for the RNRMC. By attending the evening, the audience not just contributing, but, according to Lieutenant Colonel Grace, “they [can] find out a little more about the work of the charity.” Continuing, he explains that, “If people enjoy our concerts hopefully they will be more inclined to support the RNRMC, not just once, but into the future and beyond.”

The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines perform at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on Saturday 30th September at 7.30pm. To purchase tickets call the Box Office on 0151 7093789 or visit www.liverpoolphil.com.

The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Portsmouth (Royal Band)

Liverpool Philharmonic Hall Saturday 30 September 2017 7.30pm Tickets: £15 - £30

Box Office: 0151 709 3789

www.liverpoolphil.com

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Book a tour and experience The Hazelwell for yourself. Call our home manager Liza Millington on 0151 342 9654 or email info@thehazelwell.com

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WIRRAL CARE HOME REFLECTS ON A FANTASTIC FIRST YEAR A Wirral care home celebrating its first birthday is reflecting on a fantastic first year in Heswall.

The Hazelwell, a residential, nursing, palliative and respite care home in Oldfield Road, has had a busy 12 months since the £5.5 million site was officially opened last year.

It has recently been rated ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission following an unannounced inspection by the independent regulator of all health and social services in England.

The Hazelwell was also named in the Top 20 Recommended Care Homes in the North West for 2017 by leading UK care home website, carehome.co.uk, with a score of 9.9 out of ten.

Priding itself not only on its exceptional levels of care, but also its involvement with the local community, The Hazelwell hosted a re-union evening within a couple of months of opening for former staff of the Cleaver Hospital, which occupied the original site where the care home is now situated.

Staff also dished up free Christmas dinners to elderly residents in the town in an event to tackle what can be a lonely time of year.

The care home continued to establish itself as a top care giver, by supporting a local hospital beat the effects of

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winter pressures. The Hazelwell made beds available to Arrowe Park Hospital in Upton, Birkenhead to provide short term care for patients and support them in their transition from hospital to home.

The Hazelwell also welcomed friends, family and the local community to its first Garden Fête this summer which was opened by the home’s most distinguished resident 101-year-old Bernice Quail.

Liza Millington, care home manager at The Hazelwell, said: “We are very excited about celebrating our first birthday at The Hazelwell and looking back on how much we have achieved over the last year. The care home received a solid ‘good’ score from the CQC and received a high accolade with its recommendation from carehome. co.uk. The staff and residents here are also extremely proud of our community outreach efforts. We have a very inclusive culture here at The Hazelwell and feel very much a responsibility towards our surrounding community.

Being able to give something back to the local senior citizens at Christmas time and holding free events such as our first Garden Fete were both very special. We are looking forward to another exciting year.”

For more information about The Hazelwell contact Liza on 0151 342 9654, email info@thehazelwell.com or visit www.thehazelwell.com

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CREDIT: RENTALCARS.COM

WIRRAL SCHOOLGIRLS FLY TO JAPAN Two Wirral schoolgirls are about to compete in a world robotics championship in Japan after developing a robot that could be used to save lives in the future.

Anna Sass and Lilly Hudson, both 15, built the bot during their school lunch breaks after teaching themselves how to code.

The robot, affectionately known as ‘Alan’, is fitted with colour and light sensors and is programmed to perform tasks and overcome obstacles without human intervention.

Anna and Lilly, who attend Prenton High School for Girls, hope the model could be used to carry out search and rescue missions after future natural disasters.

The pair were delighted after winning this year’s National Junior Robocup Rescue Line Competition, beating an entirely male field. The international stage of the competition will be held this week in Nagoya, Japan, where the girls will compete against representatives from more than 30 countries.

The girls initially struggled to raise the cash to cover flights and accommodation, but Rentalcars.com, the world’s biggest online car rental service, offered to sponsor them for the duration of their trip. Anna said: “We started working on Alan in a robotics club at school. We are selftaught in code and we built him using old materials that had been in school for about ten years. The club started with about eleven of us but everyone else dropped out

except me and Lilly. We never imagined we would be flying out to Japan to compete in a competition when we first started. We competed in the national competition in March and we were the only girls in our group. We could tell people were shocked when we turned up. People just don’t expect girls to be into this kind of thing.”

Alan operates by running on a track and navigating itself around obstacles such as bricks and pens, and the girls hope the model could be used to move around fallen buildings and rubble in future.

Lilly said: “In the future Alan could be developed more to have thermal sensors, then he would be able to detect and save victims after natural disasters. Our ultimate goal is for him to be able to save lives.”

After hearing about Anna and Lilly’s need for sponsorship, Rentalcars.com contacted the girls and offered to stump up £3,000 to cover expenses.

Ryan Cheyne, Director of People from Rentalcars.com said: “We think Anna and Lilly are really inspirational.

When we heard about Alan we made contact to see if we could help because we thought it was a great opportunity to encourage young people to get interested and involved in technology. We are incredibly proud to be helping out with Anna and Lilly, and of course now the whole business is rooting for them. It feels a bit like Alan vs Goliath, but whatever happens it’s a huge experience for them and a great opportunity to inspire some other youngsters.” wirrallife.com 17

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SERIOUS FUN FOR THE KIDS THIS SUMMER AT JUMPIN’ JOSEPHS With the summer holidays now underway, Wirral Life went along to Jumpin’ Josephs trampoline park in Neston to find out what all the hype was about and to meet owner Letitia Allmark.

Based on the Clayhill Industrial Estate in Neston, the park is impressive, colourful and fun! It features trampolines, a jump tower, ninja assault course, tumble mat and foam pit.

It is also an all weather park with a 40ft zip wire, giant jump pillow, football goals and basketball nets to keep the kids thoroughly entertained during the summer.

Parents can enjoy homemade pancakes with Nicholls ice cream whilst the kids play.

Owner, Letitia Allmark said: “My inspiration to open the park was my father. He founded the renowned All Star Wrestling company. He was a legend and a man of such dedication to do things right that has led to an outstanding number one status for 48 years for his wrestling company. With so many years of experience both behind the scenes and as an All Stars ring announcer, it was time for a new venture.”

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“The staff are at the heart of Jumpin Josephs as they are mostly family or friends. We all pull together in the same direction and make sure every person who walks through our door not only has an amazing time but is valued.

From wrestling shows to superheroes we have it all at Jumpin Josephs and a warm welcome awaits.”

She also went on to explain that the park is named after her son Joseph. She said: “When we were backstage at Blackpool Tower 10 years ago, Robbie Brookside, a famous Liverpool wrestler who now works for WWE in America said to my then 3 year old son, “Well Joseph if you are going to be a wrestler you will need a wrestling name” Joseph jumped up and down and said “how about Jumpin Joseph?” The name has stayed with him ever since so it was the perfect name for our park. Not to be out done my 6 year old daughter, Lexie, she announced if the park is going to be called Jumpin Josephs then the cafe has to be Lexie’s Lunches.”

Jumpin Josephs has received excellent reviews on TripAdvisor and we highly recommend the park for a great day out with the kids this summer. Entrance fee is £8.99 or a summer pass is £39. To find out more information, visit www.jumpinjosephs.co.uk

facebook/jumpinjosephs

11AM - 6PM 7 days a week

• NINJA WARRIOR ASSAULT COURSE • BOUNCE PILLOW • ZIP WIRE • JUMP TOWER • FOAM PIT • SUPERHEROES Clayhill Industrial Estate, Neston, CH64 3RL

T: 0151 363 2020 W: jumpinjosephs.co.uk

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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

Independence to Inspire SENIORS OPEN DAY Please register online

Saturday 23rd September 11am - 2pm

Discover what more an independent education can offer HMC Independent Day School Girls and Boys 3 months to 18 years Birkenhead School, 58 Beresford Road, Oxton, Wirral, CH43 2JD

birkenheadschool.co.uk

THE INTERVIEW: LIAM HANLON

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AN INTERVIEW WITH LIAM HANLON Liam Hanlon, local businessman and organiser of the Across Mersey Swim shares with us his life story, passion for adventure and love of open water swimming.

Liam Hanlon was born in Bristol in 1967 and was the second eldest son of Diane and Ray Hanlon. Shortly after his birth, Liam and his family moved to Rock Ferry where he grew up with his seven siblings before moving to Oxton. Despite not being academic at school, but with direction and support from his devoted parents, Liam has gone onto enjoy a successful career as joint Managing Director of the multimillion pound construction company - The Forshaw Group. Sport and charity has always been important to the Hanlon family; Liam founded the Tri-4Life charitable organisation, organises the Across Mersey Swim and is always seeking his next sporting challenge. Married to his long-term sweetheart Debbie, they have two children Kiera and Caitlin and now live in Caldy. In an exclusive and inspiring interview, we find out more about Liam and his adventures.

You are one of seven siblings. As a large family what principles did your parents instil?

My father worked as a self-employed joiner in the building trade, whilst my mother took care of everything else. My parents were also foster carers so as many as twelve children shared the family home in Kings Mount, Oxton. Their no-nonsense approach to parenting instilled some valuable principles about self-reliance, accountability and working hard from an early age. We were encouraged to join as many youth clubs, sports clubs and organisations as we had time for. So life was always busy for us - full of new experiences and packed with fun and always local to the mighty River Mersey.

Has sport always played a big part in your family life?

During the early 1970’s, my parents ordered a design pack for the first prototype Hang-Glider and they soon became the founding members of the British Hang-Gliding Association.

Dad would cut and drill the aluminium tubing to make the frame work and mum would carefully cut and sow the sail material to fit. My brother Sean and I would spend the weekends trawling the scrapyards of Birkenhead cutting out the seatbelts from old cars to be used as webbing to make the harnesses for the pilots. Our Sunday’s were spent loading the new gliders onto Dad’s Mini and heading to the mountains of North Wales.

In those days, all the equipment was carried from the bottom to

the top of the mountain and the flight was always the other way.

A good flight was noted if you managed to land with yourself and your kite in one piece. Sean and I enjoyed some amazing early solo flying experiences on dad’s homemade glider at the age of nine and ten, until the legislation and Health & Safety caught up with the sport. Being introduced to this wilderness, adventure environment, in all weather conditions, from such an early age shaped my desire and aspirations of what could be possible. The sport of Hang-Gliding remains one of the premier adventure sports in the world and our family members continue to fly. During my lifelong enjoyment in sport participation, I have been fortunate to represent my club, county and region in swimming, boxing and skiing. I have travelled the world and experienced many diverse environments on expedition experiences with the Army Cadet Force, Royal Marine Reserve and Raleigh International.

In your school years, were you academic or more practical?

My secondary education years were academically uneventful.

The only talents and ability I had was for sport and physical education and these were not recognised subjects in the early 1980’s. Anyone of my age group will also remember the political and social backdrop to this worrying period being jaded by the power cuts and industrial action, the miner’s strikes and the race riots. As a young army cadet, my teenage years were strongly influenced by the Falkland’s War. With the highest youth unemployment on record and no real career or employment aspirations, I decided my future would be as a Royal Marine Commando. However, dad had other ideas and had arranged for me to attend an aptitude test with the Construction Industry Training Board for a placement on a joinery apprenticeship Youth Training Scheme with Balfour Beatty Building. This proved to be a defining decision in the shaping of my future.

You have a very successful career. Tell us more about your career path.

The subsequent teamwork and leadership skills transferred into my working career since joining the construction industry at sixteen years old in 1984. I spent twelve years with Balfour Beatty progressing through a trade apprenticeship, tradesman and foreman, gaining BTEC, HNC, CITB, HND and CIOB wirrallife.com 23

qualifications. I spent the following two years with Carefoot Construction based in Longridge near Preston as a General Foreman and Site Manager before starting a full time four-year degree programme at University College Chester. This was September 1995, the time I joined the company that would over next twenty two years evolve into The Forshaw Group Ltd with myself as joint Managing Director of a leading, award winning Insurance Building Repair Specialist.

Tri-4-Life is a charitable organisation that you founded. Why did you originally set it up?

Tri-4-life is the realisation of a simple dream - to bring people together in remembrance and friendship whilst spreading a positive message and reaching out a hand of friendship from Merseyside to all the cities, communities and individuals that share this journey. It has brought us so many diverse challenges and allowed for amazing experiences all over the world. To be able to achieve this together with your family and friends is unique and extremely rewarding. For a group of average everyday friends brought together by a vision, passion and enthusiasm through a common interest in the sport of triathlon.

Keeping fit, raising funds and having fun with everything it has to offer. For me personally, it’s about getting up off your backside and making a difference to your community, your family, yourself and your life whilst raising much-needed funds for those less fortunate. The experience has enriched all aspects of my life and I very much looking forward to many more tri-4life challenges to come and will once again be venturing across the Mighty River Mersey on Saturday 26th August 2017.

Tell us about some of the Tri-4-Life challenges?

We have undertaken some very gruelling challenges. Our European Challenge 2006, was a non-stop cycle relay of 958 miles from John ‘O’ Groats to Land’s End followed by an official two team 23-mile relay swim across the English Channel from Shakespeare point to Cape Griz Nez under the none wetsuit Channel Swimming Association rules. Although the swim did not go exactly to plan due to timing and tidal conditions, we completed the full distance and headed to Cape Giz Nez. After completing the swim, we completed the non-stop 150-mile relay run to the European Capital Brussels, finishing the event at the European Parliament. The tri-4-life European Challenge 2006 raised thousands of pounds for local, regional, national 24 wirrallife.com

and international charities. Returning from Brussels at that time I had no idea the impact this would have for me and the future of the team. 2015 saw the team take on a challenge that was the BIG 7 SWIM Extreme. With lots of opportunity to swim in local waters, many of which had never been attempted as an organised event. The team swam in all bodies of water that surround the Wirral Peninsula. To once again experience the tidal flow of the mighty River Mersey, and explore the tranquil dark waters of West Kirby in the Dusk till Dawn night swim.

We enjoyed the picturesque River Dee on a tidal surge from Thursaston to West Kirby and Hilbre Island to West Kirby, navigating formidable sandbanks in the company of Harbour/ Spotted and Atlantic Grey seals. The most challenging swim was crossing the River Dee from The Prince of Wales in Flint to West Kirby. The conditions on the day were far from perfect requiring some alterations to the swim plan. In a build up to the final swim, the team completed a six-mile two-way swim of Bala Lake in North Wales. The final swim of the challenge was a 10.5-mile solo swim of Lake Windermere that ten members of tri-4-life completed. This event again raised funds for a number of worthwhile charities.

What is it like to swim the River Mersey?

Of all the swims I have done the River Mersey is always the one I am drawn back to and excited by the prospect of the challenge each year. In all the year’s I have swam the Mersey, no two swims have been the same. The tide, the wind, the water temperature and slight seasonal changes create a ‘never knowing’ element to this iconic swim. The traditional swim is non-wet suit so hypothermia has always been the biggest threat to me. There have been years where swimmers have suffered more from jelly fish stings and ‘Sea Bees’, the occasional floating debris and of course the busy shipping channels. For me, this must be a ‘bucket list’ event for any competent open water swimmer.

You have to be extremely fit to be an open water swimmer, what is your diet like?

I would say I have a sensible, uncomplicated diet. I just enjoy good wholesome food and probably too many cakes and biscuits. I use Herbalife nutrition products to balance my diet and help with additional requirements when training for and competing in these challenging events.

What’s your vision for the Across Mersey Swim?

The first recorded Across Mersey Swim was in 1863 and remains as challenging now as it did back then. My vision would be to open this amazing swim to as many competent swimmers as possible to enjoy this iconic challenge and to place the Mighty River Mersey on the world map for open water adventure swimming.

What is your biggest accomplishment?

I think Tri-4-Life has been a pretty huge accomplishment in my life - as the principles and ethos define me as a person. My family, friends, work, social life and business benefit from the experiences we all share.

What would be your ultimate achievement?

To continue to enjoy new challenges in all aspects of my life and to see the younger generations involved in all we do.

What was the best advice you were ever given?

I have been fortunate to have good mentors and many notable examples to follow in my life. The best advice I have been given is ‘to do what you think is right, for the right reasons at that time and to learn from both your achievements and mistakes’.

What is your favourite car?

I have never really been one for cars. As a youngster, I had two uncles that worked for Bentley Motors in Crewe. It was always a childhood dream to own a Bentley Continental.

Alcohol or tee total?

I am not a big drinker, however in my maturing years I do enjoy a small measure of Irish whisky over ice reflecting on what has been and the possibilities of what can be.

What is your favourite cuisine?

Good wholesome English or Italian cooking, enjoyed with family and friends.

Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by?

Yes, our team song by the Dubliners ‘Don’t Give Up till it’s Over’

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W FEATURE L

A BEAUTIFUL WIRRAL PARADISE

BY SWASIE TURNER

The natural virtues of the largely unnoticed ‘Meols Pit’ Situated alongside a railway station in a beautiful part of Wirral at Meols is the mainly unnoticed large lake known as the Meols ‘Pit’.

At this venue is the exclusive Birkenhead Angling club, a fiercely protective coarse fishing club where the rules regarding angling at the well stocked pond are quite rightly rigidly enforced.

Permitted attendance at this venue is strictly for club members only, even membership itself is restricted.

Meols ‘Pit’ as it has always been known as is a haven for the coarse fisherman. I would deem it almost a local ‘heritage’ due to the abundance of varied wildlife that inhabits the beautiful scene. The whole area is also a treasured venue not only for the keen ornithologist but is also pedantically protected by conservationists alike, the area is truly a local jewel in nature’s crown. Meols Pit dates back to Victorian times as it is said that the land was owned by railways, who dug the pit and filled it with water to enable the steam locomotives to take on water.

Eventually the surrounding area of the pit became embroiled with thick, thorny and impenetrable vegetation and grass. As a consequence, the large area of water was rented out for a nominal fee to anglers who promptly set about stocking the pond with fish and clearing the sides of the thick undergrowth.

The anglers’ established their own exclusive club and the Birkenhead Angling Club (BAC) was formed. One of the club’s subsequent stalwarts is now the chairman of the BAC, Mr Harry Naylor. Harry and his team of keen, enthusiastic fellow members go out of their way to ensure a high standard is maintained in and around the whole area of what can now be considered a 26 wirrallife.com

lake. The waters teem with fish of various species. Not least of these is the fearsome predator and worthy opponent of the keen coarse angler, the notorious Pike. There are a number of these who reside in the murky depths, one of whom is reputed to be a ‘giant’ specimen?

The Fearsome Pike Membership of the club is kept to around thirty to protect the banks and their surrounding areas from being trampled by too many people. Mr Naylor and his team maintain a constant vigil to keep the lake clear of pondweed and also to ensure the protection of the wonderful wildlife that is constantly present. The ‘fishery’ will sometimes give an additional treat to the keen ornithological observer by the sight of the beautiful kingfisher seeking the opportunity of a meal.

The Beautiful Kingfisher The scene is also regularly enhanced by the presence of numerous exotic butterflies as a further treat. The members of the Birkenhead Angling Club do a fantastic job in maintaining such an enviable Wirral beauty spot to such an extremely high standard.

Is it any wonder they are so strict and determined to ensure that such a beautiful venue stays that way?

CELEBRATE IN STYLE AT THE MANOR The Manor in Greasby Village has the most delightful Function Suite, the perfect setting for your special occasion. The menus bring an enhanced level of dining experience to the very heart of the Wirral. Working in harmony with the seasons and a range of top-notch suppliers we have created a selection of classic British dishes with the occasional subtle twist. Our function suite co-ordinator - Hazel has a wealth of experience, so you can rely on being well looked after and treated with the care and attention you desire during your special day.

THE MANOR • GREASBY VILLAGE, CH49 3NF • 0151 677 7034 • WWW.THEMANORWIRRAL.COM

THE WIRRAL’S MOBILE VETERINARY SERVICE A FULL RANGE OF ROUTINE AND SPECIALIST SERVICES SUPPORTED BY OUR CENTRAL HESWALL HUB.

sandersonvet UNRIVALLED VETERINARY EXPERTISE

T: 07841 865 855 E: sandersonvet@outlook.com W: sandersonvet.com Room 20, Whitfield Business Hub, 184-200 Pensby Road, Heswall, CH60 7RJ

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MEET THE MOBILE VET

Richard Sanderson BVSc certAVP(SAP) GDL MRCVS, Owner of Sanderson Vet and Honorary Lecturer at University of Liverpool talks all things veterinary.

Veterinary Medicine is rapidly changing with a growing number of practices falling into corporate ownership. This is often not known to the clients, with them retaining their original name. The market is becoming tougher, even for certificate holders like myself in an independent practice like ours and we offer a full range of routine and specialist procedures from vaccines and the poorly pet right through to chemotherapy, thoracic surgery and orthopaedics. We are in the minority of practices that is still available 24/7 rather than outsourcing their out-of-hours care, and who remain willing to see those less common species such as Koi Carp.

Stress in animals and owners is a key issue. The total experience of going to the vet for your pet can be over an hour once accounting for the travel time, waiting time and the battle to get the dog in the car or the cat into the cat box! A standard vet appointment can be as short as 5 minutes but we aim to spend at least 20-30mins with each client.

By providing this in-the-home we have more time to get the history from the client, whilst reducing the stressful examination part to just a few minutes.

Most of the time, the pet barely notices we have been there! For those pets who dislike the vet, we find they are much better in their own home.

There is more information available on the internet, with the biggest challenge to try and find the best

advice on key area’s such as vaccination, nutrition and parasite treatment. Like our approach for our own health, there is a drive towards natural living and holistic supplements. We focus our business model about creating a close working relationship with clients and their pets so we can understand and recognise their individual needs and risks. By offering specialist procedures too, we don’t need to refer cases meaning you get your local vet all the time, which provides wonderful peace-of-mind and excellent standards.

We are running a series of evenings addressing these key topics to enable people to get the best information, and how to find that information. As veterinary practice becomes more competitive we see greater focus on standard Health Care Plans which are often not as beneficial to the client as they may seem. Unlike many practices we don’t have a one size fits all approach, and look to offer patient specific plans and preventative health care.

We stock a wide range of products to suit the individual, and focus on providing patient-focused healthcare, treating your pet like they are our own, supported by state-of-the-art facilities in Heswall.

For more information on the service we offer, please contact us on 07841 865855.

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PETER COLLINGE OBE CELEBRATES HIS 90TH BIRTHDAY Wirral resident Peter Collinge celebrates his 90th Birthday this month. A successful competition hairdresser in the early 50's, founder of a chain of contemporary salons and a champion of high standards within hairdressing apprenticeship training were all recognised in 2012 when Peter was awarded the OBE for services to the hairdressing industry. Here we look back at some iconic moments and images from an illustrious career.

Happy Birthday Peter!

1950 The Gladstone Ballroom, Liverpool. An early win for Peter in competition hairdressing. In a relatively short period of time he won numerous events throughout the UK and Europe. His model in the photograph was Hazel Anderson.

They would go onto wed the following year for what was a very long and happy marriage.

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1953 An early 1950's price list. With all the publicity he received from his competition wins - there was only really one hairdresser to go to.

The first Peter Collinge salon was situated on the 3rd floor of Hepworth Chambers, Church Street, Liverpool. The small salon was instant success, so much so clients were queuing on the stairs and it wasn't long before the salon relocated to take up the whole of the first floor in the same building.

Late 1950’s

1969

Hazel Collinge, photographed here on reception, was responsible for the interior design of the salons, ensuring they were always contemporary, as this fabulous image from the late 1950's perfectly illustrates. It wasn't only in design Hazels influence can be seen in the development of the business as she was also instrumental in the starting up of the Training Division, firstly through the Governments fledging Youth Training Scheme in 1984 and then with the setting up of the stand alone Graduates salons. Her legacy in quality design and delivering training in a modern working environment very much lives on.

The opening of St Johns Centre in Liverpool saw the location of a brand new Peter Collinge flagship salon. Architects Paterson Macauley were commissioned and delivered a critically acclaimed salon for the modern era. Note the amount of fashion wigs on display. It was popular at the time to sport an alternative hairstyle for a night out.

1960’s A classic 60’s hairstyle created by Peter Collinge.

1984 1984 Another design classic, the frontage of the first Peter Collinge training salon situated in St Johns Centre. The forerunner to the Graduate salons.

2012 Peter at Buckingham Palace having just received his OBE for services to hairdressing from HRH The Princess Royal.

1994 Peter on the set of the daytime TV show This Morning at the Albert Dock. He created this collection of hair styles to as part of the shows celebrations to commemorate the 50th anniversary of VE Day. In 1945, at the age of 17, Peter served on board The Mauritania, the Cunard Flagship liner, which had been requisitioned by the Navy as a troop carrier during the war. As a newly qualified hairdresser, he worked in the ships salon, styling the hair of service woman returning home from duty to far flung corners of the Commonwealth. The Mauritania was eventfully restored to its former glory as a luxury transatlantic liner, with Peter continuing to work on board, tending to the demands of the rich and famous as they travelled between New York and Southampton. In 1949, he returned to land and joined his parents salon in West Derby. wirrallife.com 31

AMERICAN PANCAKES RECIPE

BY LES BELL OF CHANTILLY TEA ROOMS

I have been a Baker and Chef Patissier for over 40 years.

During this time, I have catered for different celebrities across corporate events. I'm often on Radio Merseyside with Linda McDermott on Thursday evenings talking about food, drink and entertainment. I have recently starred on the local TV channel Made In Liverpool, demonstrating how to make sun-dried tomato and olive bread.

COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH

BY THORNTON HALL HOTEL

At Chantilly Tea Rooms, I make numerous cakes such as Lemon Drizzle, Manchester Tart and Pecan Pie to name a few! Each morning, I make fresh award winning Granary and White Bread to serve as a sandwich or to accompany our homemade soups and Scouse. Here is our recipe to make 3 large American Pancakes. Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS • 120grams Self Raising Flour • 3 tablespoons Caster Sugar • 1 teaspoon Baking Powder • 1/4 teaspoon Salt • 1 large Egg • 120ml Semi Skimmed Milk METHOD 1. Weigh off flour, sugar, baking powder and salt into a bowl.

2. Add 1 egg.

3. Add milk and mix altogether to a smooth, slightly thick consistency.

4. Take a large frying pan, smear with oil and heat.

5. Using a ladle, pour 3 equal portions into a hot pan and fry for 3 minutes each side. You may require an additional pan.

6. Serve with crispy bacon and maple syrup or a serving of fresh fruit.

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LIVERPOOL SUMMER INGREDIENTS: • 50ml Liverpool Gin • 200ml Apple Juice • 25ml Elderflower Cordial • Soda • Cucumber

Combine gin, apple juice and elderflower cordial in a Boston shaker. Shake well over ice. Once shaken, pour the contents into a Collins glass over crushed ice, top up with soda & garnish with cucumber ribbons.

TWEEDMILL

Food

F A Y R E A FREE EVENT WITH PLENTY TO SEE, DO AND TASTE FOR EVERYONE! IT’S A SHOWCASE OF THE QUALITY AND VARIETY OF THE FOOD AND HOSPITALITY ON OFFER AT TWEEDMILL.

24TH & 25TH SEPTEMBER 2017

10 - 4PM FREE ENTRY

TO FIND OUT MORE, VISIT www.tweedmill.co.uk

THE WHISKY CONNOISSEUR

BY DAVID GREEN, THE RED FOX

Arran Distillery is a relative newcomer to the hallowed halls of single-malt scotch but has fast become a dynamic new force in the industry and is one of the few remaining independent distilleries in Scotland.

Perhaps not as well known as some of the other islands of Scotland, the Isle of Arran is located east of the Kintyre peninsula where Campbeltown (and Springbank distillery) is located and west of mainland Scotland. The island has always been a fine place to make good whisky, with many agreeing it has some of the purest water in all of Scotland; water that has been cleansed by granite and softened by peat as it slowly meanders from the mountaintops.

Early in the 19th century, there were more than 50 whisky distilleries on Arran, most of them illegal and carefully hidden from the eyes of the taxmen. The malt was acclaimed at the time as the best in Scotland but when quantity was prized over quality, the small island couldn’t compete economically, and one by one the distilleries fell into disuse.

In 1991, about 160 years after the last distillery on Arran gave up the production of whisky, the construction of a new distillery was started and in 1995, Isle of Arran Distillers finally opened their doors. Today they offer several bottling’s and are the only distillery on the Isle of Arran. In 2014, The Visitor Centre was awarded ‘Distillery Visitor Experience of the Year’ and went on to win again in 2015.

The whisky matures in carefully-chosen oak casks that have previously held Sherry, Bourbon and other noble liquors. The wood gives colour and character, and the choice of cask is probably the most important influence on the character of the end whisky.

Once it reaches the desired age, they bottle most of their single malts at 46% ABV or at cask-strength. They never add anything artificial and its all non chill filtered so all the colour in their whisky comes from the wood of the cask.

They produce a range of different styles and finishes, including a series named ‘Cask Finishes’ which contain whisky matured in different casks including Amerone & Port, but the one that stood out for me was the Sauternes cask finish, but I might be slightly biased as these casks have come from my favourite wine region ‘Bordeaux’.

After initially maturing in traditional oak casks for approximately 8 years, the Malt was finished in a selection of Sauternes wine casks sourced from an artisan producer of this iconic Bordeaux sweet white wine.

Sauternes is where arguably the world’s finest sweet white wines are produced using Sémillon, Sauvignon blanc, and Muscadelle grapes. I was really interested to try this and I was not disappointed, the end result is a Single Malt full of charm, complexity and quality.

With plans in place to begin building a second distillery in the south of the island, times have never been more exciting for Arran distillery.

Bottled at powerful 50% yet this is a fresh, sweet, fruity and seductive whisky with a long, rich and slightly drying finish with aroma’s of fresh fruit.

They have a simple philosophy that is to produce a range of whiskies of the very finest quality and produce a range of ages and expressions, but all are made using the same traditional methods and materials.

A delightfully light but interesting dram, with a peppery, spicy kick, this Arran Sauternes cask finish is a great addition to any cabinet, delicious and definitely a dessert dram.

They always use all-Scottish barley and the washbacks - large wooden vessels used for fermentation - are crafted from Oregon pine.

Available at The Red Fox for £4.50 a dram or from www.thewhiskyexchange.com for £43.55

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THE BUTCHERS CUT

BY MUFFS OF BROMBOROUGH

Here at Muffs our business has grown and evolved over the years. To keep up with the ever changing way in which people eat, shop and live their lives we have had to move with the times. This has presented itself in the form of grab and go ready meals such as chicken en croute, beef wellington and chorizo chicken to name a few.

MOROCCAN LAMB TAGINE

Our range of quality fresh meals that are oven ready, no fuss and healthy is growing by the day. We have also diversified by selling the best quality fruit and vegetables available to truly give our customers a one stop shop of gourmet delights that are available for everyone.

Our hot food counter has proved a real hit with the customers with people queueing out the door for the daily specials on offer. With continental and local cheese, wine and beers to preserves and sweets we try and provide something for everyone.

The beating heart of the business is still meat! Remember Muffs Means Meat! We have always strived to supply the best quality meat available. Our Welsh black beef is dry aged for four weeks before it is sold. This matures the meat, intensifying the flavour and tenderising it as well. We have fresh welsh lamb and pigs with all the traditional cuts you would expect from a good butchers. As trends change one thing will always remain the same at Muffs and that is Best Quality Meat.

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

• • • • • • • •

1. Place the cayenne, black pepper, paprika, ginger, turmeric, allspice and cinnamon into a small bowl and mix to combine. Place the lamb in a large bowl and toss together with half of the spice mix. Cover and leave overnight in the fridge.

2. Preheat the oven to 150oC/300F/Gas mark 2.

3. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil and in a large casserole dish add the onion and the remaining spice mix and cook over a gentle heat for 10 minutes so that the onions are soft but not coloured. Add the crushed garlic for the final 3 minutes.

4. In a separate frying pan, heat the remaining oil and brown the cubes of lamb on all sides then add the browned meat to the casserole dish.

5. Add chopped tomatoes, apricots, dates, raisins or sultanas, flaked almonds, saffron, lamb stock and honey to the casserole dish. Bring to the boil, cover with a fitted lid, 6. Place in the oven and cook for 2-2½ hours or until the meat is meltingly tender.

7. Place the lamb in a tagine or large serving dish and sprinkle over the chopped herbs. Serve.

• • • • • • • • • •

1 tsp cayenne pepper 2 tsp ground black pepper 1½ tbsp paprika 1½ tbsp ground ginger 1 tsp all spice 1 tbsp turmeric 2 tsp ground cinnamon 1 x shoulder of lamb, trimmed and cut into 5cm/2in chunks (about 1.1kg/2½lb meat in total) 2 large onions, 2 tbsp olive oil 3 cloves garlic, crushed 2 x 400g tinned chopped tomatoes 115g/4oz dried apricots, cut in half 55g/2oz dates, cut in half 55g/2oz sultanas or raisins 85g/3oz flaked almonds 600ml/1 pint lamb stock 1 tbsp clear honey

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summer is here MAKE THE MOST OF IT WITH

FINE FOODS AND DELI

EST 1974

Multi-award-winning Steve and John Muff only use the finest ingredients in their sausages, pies and puddings to ensure that they maintain the high quality for which they are known, not only in the North West, but across the whole of the UK.

Muffs of Bromborough. The Cross, Allport Lane, Wirral, CH62 7HQ. Tel: 0151 334 2002. www.muffsonline.co.uk

SPECIAL OFFERS ON ALL OF OUR FAMOUS BBQ PACKS

THE LAWNS

by Nicky Rigby-Smith & Si Hall The Lawns Restaurant is situated within the beautiful 4-star Thornton Hall Hotel. Seated at our table overlooking the landscaped grounds, the delightful Charvelle, Restaurant Manager, presented us with our menus and extensive wine list.

We opted for the Seven Course Tasting menu. Head Chef, Chad Hughes, has designed an excellent menu with a strong emphasis on high grade, quality and local ingredients.

Amuse bouche was canapes, Torintone Gin & Tonic (Thornton Hall’s own gin distilled in Spital), Handmade granary onion loaf and a potato volute and truffle snack. All terrific and a great start to our sitting. To drink, we chose a Goldschild Riesling Trocken which was elegant and light with a racy lime acidity.

Our first course was Pork Belly served with variations of rhubarb, pickled apple and red wine jus. The pork was wonderfully tender and the attention to detail was impressive. The rhubarb worked extremely well with the pork and apple flavours.

Our next dish was crab, mooli, apple and lemon verbena emulsion. Delicately and beautifully presented, the white crab meat was the freshest we’ve ever tasted. We were particularly impressed by this dish. Outstanding.

The Hand Dived scallops, that are specially ordered from the Isle of Mull, came served with cauliflower puree, pancetta and tagete.

The scallops were flawless.

To follow was Wirral Watercress panna cotta garnished with vegetables, leaves and flowers all locally grown by Peter Jones.

One word… Wow! This dish was interesting, colourful, different and had excellent flavour. A huge credit to Chef.

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Up next was Poached Turbot - an exceptional piece of fish with excellent flavour, served with wasabi foam and pickled cucumber - simply first class.

The welsh rump of lamb served with baby shallots, pancetta, beans and peas scallops was a show stopper. A divine piece of lamb with a perfect balance of flavours. We paired this dish with a classic Martinfort Malbec.

For pre-dessert, we had a lemon and blueberry cheesecake.

Gorgeous. This was followed by a Salted Chocolate Ganache, Morello cherry sorbet and chocolate textures. Rich and velvety, complemented by the acidity of the cherry sorbet.

Our final dish, Stawberries & Cream came served with vanilla panna cotta, white and red strawberries and mint. Fantastic!

Overall, The Lawns is an exceptional restaurant. Beautiful surroundings. Outstanding service. Extensive wine list. Delicious and interesting menus. And finally… out of this world food – Chad Hughes is a very talented chef and one to watch… Five Stars!

Given the outstanding culinary calibre, the menu was very reasonably priced at £85 per person or £130 including the wine selection.

Booking is advisable.

To book call, 0151 336 3938 www.thorntonhallhotel.com

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NORTHCOTE

by Carl Housbey

It’s gloriously sunny outside, and I’m trying to write this month’s article, but I keep daydreaming about sitting on the terrace at Northcote drinking a glass of chilled Louis Roederer Champagne whilst nibbling on some delicious canapés.

Northcote is a 19th century manor house that was once home to a Lancashire textile baron, which for the last 30 years or so has been run as a luxury hotel and fine dining restaurant by Chef Patron Nigel Haworth and his business partner Craig Bancroft.

Nigel will be a familiar face to many of you, due to his numerous TV appearances on Great British Menu and Saturday Kitchen, where you see him create fantastic dishes using ingredients available from his native Lancashire. Craig, although less well known to the public, is a legend within the Hospitality Industry and is currently Hotelier of the Year 2016, and Hotel Personality of the Year 2017.

It’s testament to the hard work of everyone involved that Northcote has consistently held a Michelin Star for over 20 years. These days responsibility for retaining that star lies in the highly skilled hands of Executive Head Chef Lisa GoodwinAllen and her brigade. If my experience of the Summer tasting menu is anything to go by then the star should be safe for the foreseeable future, as every course was excellent. I started with a dish of summer tomatoes, topped with nasturtium flowers, and served with a warm herb crumpet. These mini plum and heirloom tomatoes were absolutely packed with flavour, and I made good use of the crumpet to mop up every last drop of that sweet juice.

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Next was rich and buttery English veal liver cooked to perfection, served with onions and thyme from Northcote’s garden. A glass of Pinot Gris from Alsace complemented it wonderfully. Peas are at their freshest in early summer, and when served here with homemade Jersey curd and rose oil made from Northcote’s own rose petals, they became one of the freshest and lightest dishes I’ve ever eaten. The delicate, yet creamy Junmai Daiginjo Sake matched perfectly.

To follow, a piece of John Dory so firm and fresh, that I would swear it had just jumped out of the sea onto my plate. This was only enhanced by the accompanying clams, local fresh sea herbs, Bramley apple and bacon.

Next was smoked Rare Breed pork, with BBQ peach, and pickled carrots. This was possibly my favourite dish, as the fantastically tender Iberico Pork just melted in the mouth, and the light pickle on the carrot cut through the sweet unctuous fat to refresh my palate ready for the next mouthful. The sixth course was a juicy loin of Cumbrian Roe deer, served with cauliflower that had been marinated in a paste of Moroccan spices, before being slowly caramelised in the oven - utterly delicious. To finish was a dessert that showcased British strawberries at their best, with an emulsion of garden mint, and an Elderflower granita served with shortcake and toffee shards - sublime.

To make a reservation for a table or one of the 26 extremely comfortable and luxurious rooms, call 01254 240 555 or click www.northcote.com Follow Carl on Twitter @carlhousbey

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ELAN MOVES INTO OLD QUAY MEADOW The key to choosing a new home is viewing and with a show home now open at Old Quay Meadow buyers in Parkgate and Neston are sure to be inspired.

Properties at the Elan Homes development have been selling off plan, initially from Westminster Place near Chester and more recently via Reeds Rains in Neston.

Now building work has progressed, the niche developer is throwing open the doors to a professionally styled and fully furnished show home.

Marie Morris, sales director for Elan Homes in the North, says: “The show home launch is a milestone for Old Quay Meadow as up until now buyers have been reliant on the floor plans or have visited our other developments where we have similar properties available to view. To reward customers for their patience, we’re inviting those who registered their interest for an exclusive first look inside the Chesham show home.”

“We’re really looking forward to being able to showcase the location, along with the layout and specification. The Chesham really is a must see for those who want to live in the Neston and Parkgate area.”

Offering 1,765 sq ft of well planned living space, the Chesham show home is a prestigious detached property very much designed with families in mind.

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Providing a focal point for family life, is the open plan kitchen, breakfast/ family room with adjoining utility. Bi-fold doors lead from this sociable space to the rear garden, with the lounge benefiting from lots of natural light and easy access to outside space courtesy of French doors.

The formal dining room, with feature bay window, is at the front of the property. A cloakroom completes the ground floor.

Upstairs, both the master bedroom and second bedroom enjoy the benefit of am en-suite to complement the family bathroom.

There’s even the option to create a fifth bedroom or study on the galleried landing.

Current availability at Old Quay Meadow includes three, four and five-bedroom homes, with prices from £299,995.

Elan is offering to cover the cost of Stamp Duty on selected properties for a limited time only, subject to terms and conditions. Homes at Old Quay Meadow are ideally situated to enjoy the coast and countryside, in an area with a strong sense of community. Residents can perhaps take their dog for a walk through Wirral Country Park or enjoy a leisurely stroll along the promenade at Parkgate while tucking into fish and chips or homemade ice-cream.

For more information, visit: www.elan-homes.co.uk/old-quaymeadow or call 0845 481 8807.

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

LIVERPOOL SHOWROOM

291 Woodchurch Road Prenton www.panoramakitchens.co.uk Wirral CH42 9LE 0151 609 0455

11 Belmont Road Anfield Liverpool L6 5BG 0151 260 7749

Follow us on twitter: @constablesea Like us on facebook: www.facebook.com/constablesestateagents

BEST PROPERTIES EDITORS CHOICE

Ludbrook Cottage, Raby ÂŁ695,000 Offered for sale is this beautiful five-bedroom detached family home set in approaching 2 acres of glorious countryside.

Proudly positioned at the end of a long driveway, this unique property offers its owners genuine privacy, being surrounded by large formal gardens and accompanied by a paddock and an orchard to the rear. Internally, it does not disappoint, having been finished immaculately.

The main house dates back to the early 1900s and many of the original features can be seen throughout, having been maintained and meticulously restored. The property has been substantially extended over recent years and provides versatile accommodation to meet the requirements of the modern family or can provide a separate annex for relatives or guests. There is potential to further extend the property to provide additional ground and first floor accommodation, subject to the usual planning requirements. Early viewing is essential.

Contact Constables for more information on 0151 353 1333.

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Old Post Office, Neston ÂŁ465,000 Offered to the market is this idyllic four bedroom detached character cottage that has been tastefully restored from what was the old post office in Burton village. This property is truly a one off!

The property briefly comprises; Large double fronted dining room with log burning stove in original stone fireplace, ceiling beams and solid maple wood floor. The kitchen is a modern design and features a double Belfast sink, five ring gas hob with stainless steel extractor,integrated double-oven, fridge/ freezer, dishwasher and microwave, plenty of low and high level storage with LED down lighting under the units. There is a door to the rear of the property along with a bedroom and en-suite off the rear of the kitchen this could be used as a dining room in place of the first reception room.

Externally this property has a beautiful mature garden, with a patio seating area and lawn grass the property is very private and also has access to the large detached garage. This

impressive property must be viewed to be appreciated and early viewing is essential.

Contact Constables for more information on 0151 353 1333.

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Mostyn House, Parkgate ÂŁ210,000 An impressive individually designed first floor apartment located in the highly sought after Mostyn House development on the Parade in Parkgate.

The accommodation is finished to an exceptional standard with high quality fittings and finishes throughout. The accommodation comprises; entrance hallway with storage cupboard, open plan living space incorporating a lounge, dining room and bespoke kitchen with fully integrated appliances, bedroom with fitted wardrobes and bathroom.

The property enjoys stunning views over the Dee estuary and has a private decked balcony. There is also an allocated parking space.

Offered for sale with no onward chain, early viewing is essential.

Contact Constables for more information on 0151 353 1333.

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

LIVERPOOL SHOWROOM

291 Woodchurch Road Prenton www.panoramakitchens.co.uk Wirral CH42 9LE 0151 609 0455

11 Belmont Road Anfield Liverpool L6 5BG 0151 260 7749

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JAKE THOMPSON, MAXINE MITCHELL, NICK EDWARDS

COLOURFENCE: THE REVOLUTIONARY FENCING SYSTEM Maxine Mitchell, Managing Director at Colourfence Wirral explains to us the new Colourfence technology and how it can save you money, time and effort over the years!

Colourfence is a modern stylish garden fencing system made of high tensile steel that is lightweight yet extremely strong and durable. It is available in a range of colours to complement any garden environment and will add value to any property.

Colourfence is made in Britain and sold and installed by skilled franchisees across the UK. What is Colourfence made of?

It is made from high-grade steel called Zincalume that is given high technology protection for long life anti-corrosion performance. The protection process involves applying first a metallic coating, then a conversion coating, followed by an epoxy primer, finally a colour finish is baked on. Furthermore, the anticorrosion technology means that scratches will not rust! The coating heals abrasions by forming a waterproof combination of zinc and aluminium oxides so that the fence repairs itself. All in all, Colourfence is an incredibly strong and durable product that will withstand weather extremes. Thousands of Colourfence steel samples are exposed continually to the elements and test results confirm that Zincalume® steel maintains its integrity without fail.

How does Colourfence save money, time and effort?

Colourfence offers remarkably good value and will remain fit for purpose for at least 25 years, making your boundaries look better for longer. Colourfence is guaranteed not to rot, rust or peel. It never needs treating, painting, re-nailing or replacing. Just an occasional hose down keeps your fence looking as good as new with no ongoing maintenance costs. It’s worth asking, would a timber fence even be standing after twenty five years?

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Where can Colourfence be installed?

Colourfence can be installed anywhere on your property. It can be cut to any size on site to suit the shape of your property, and it can be stepped or raked however you like it. Fencing installations can accommodate sloping ground and allows your garden fence to follow the natural contours of your land. The good news for the Wirral is that coastal properties with high winds present no challenge to cyclone rated Colourfence. Tests and cyclonic ratings have proved that when professionally installed, Colourfence is capable of withstanding wind gusts of up to 130mph. Once it’s up - this is one fence that really does stay up!

Why is Colourfence the best alternative to timber fencing?

Traditional timber fencing sees one neighbour ending up with the ‘bad side’ of the fence. This isn’t the case with Colourfence – both sides are identical. Traditional timber fencing can be badly affected by high winds. Not so with Colourfence, made from high tensile light weight steel, that is extremely strong and durable and which can withstand wind gusts up to 130mph.

So property owners get peace of mind whatever the weather.

Treated timber has to be replaced sooner and old fence materials and concrete posts have to be disposed of at cost to the pocket and to the environment. Colourfence is built with steel posts, panels and fittings that are fully recyclable and much better for the environment and the property owner’s pocket

How does Colourfence improve the look of a property?

Your home should look its best and Colourfence is stylish fencing that any home owner can be proud of. It is available in a range of colours to help make your garden setting a pleasant

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place to enjoy with family and friends. It can be installed with or without decorative trellis and in the same or a contrasting colour depending on your preference. The colours stay looking good year after year after year and traditional Evergreen and Brown are popular or brighten up your patio with contemporary Bluestone and Cream. You can also vary colours with components to create an individual and distinctive look. Where full screening with a fence is not required, such as front gardens then ColourRail tubular steel railings are available. These railings are manufactured from galvanised steel and finished in the same colours as Colourfence and also in traditional gloss black. The choice of loop, spear and loop, or all spear make it easy to improve the look of your property. ColourRail can be free standing, mounted between posts or on top of walls.

How will Colourfence improve privacy in a property?

Privacy involves keeping your world inside and the outside world outside. Colourfence is available in heights of up to 2.1m together with lockable gates to help you maintain that privacy.

This ensures your garden is a tranquil and private retreat. Because Colourfence has no footholds and has smooth steel infill’s, it provides a tough barrier to deter intruders and help maintain your privacy. Properties are more private and secure with strong gates and Colourfence offers a range of garden and driveway gates to go with your Colourfence and ColourRail systems.

Who has already chosen to install Colourfence?

Many proud homeowners across the country have chosen to install Colourfence to add value to their homes. Their testimonials indicate their entire satisfaction with the Colourfence product and service. One client said: “We are absolutely delighted with the product and the service. We have had four areas done with the brown and the cream over the last two years and couldn’t be more pleased. On seeing our fencing, two different friends have done the same and we are all thrilled. No more painting or wind damage. These fences have not moved an inch during the

gales and we know they never will.” The popular designer and television presenter Anna Ryder Richardson chose Colourfence for her property and says: "I honestly believe that Colourfence and ColourRail are the best general purpose fencing and railing products on the market today. Virtually maintenance free; guaranteed; and professionally installed by fully trained franchisees for total peace of mind" What are the Colourfence guarantees?

People who choose Colourfence can rest assured that their investment is fully guaranteed. The posts, rails and infill’s are guaranteed for 25 years from the date of purchase as free from all defects in materials and manufacture. Also, that they will not suffer perforation from natural weathering, nor the paint surface flake or peel. Obviously the natural reduction of paint gloss is exempted. Customers also get the peace of mind with their Colourfence installation being guaranteed for 2 years from the date of purchase to not move, become loose or otherwise deteriorate due to poor installation. Also, they will resist wind gusts up to 130mph Backed by one of Australia’s leading companies, BlueScope Steel, your 25 year guarantee really means something.

How can people who want a Colourfence get more information?

Colourfence Wirral is available 7 days a week to survey, measure and quote on the installation of a Colourfence to suit your property. A simple phone call to Maxine Mitchell of Colourfence Wirral will allow her to book a suitable date and time to visit and discuss your needs. The company offers a free, no obligation quote service without any sales pressure. Customers can rely on a punctual, polite and professional service.

To find out more contact Maxine on 0756 531 5123 or email: maxine.mitchell@colourfence.co.uk

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THE STRONG, SECURE AND REVOLUTIONARY COLOURFENCE. The only garden fence you will ever need.

Colourfence is high tensile steel making it extremely strong but very lightweight too. The most practical alternative to traditional wooden fencing as it will never rot, warp, corrode or peel and can withstand storm force winds of up to 130 miles per hour.

Colourfence has been proven over the years in the harshest climate and high UV conditions of Australia. Colourfence also comes with a 25 year guarantee, virtually maintenance free except for the occasional wash down with the garden hose to keep it looking brand new.

Discover the benefits at Colourfence.co.uk For a no obligation measure and quote call Maxine Mitchell on 0756 531 5123

Luxury Bathroom Design

Whether you have a vision for your perfect bathroom or would like some inspiration to create a unique space, begin your design journey with GT Bathrooms.

We cater to those with an eye for style, who demand a high quality of life. We take all of our clients through our signature design process, focusing on all the details along the way so you don’t have to – while developing the most exquisite bathrooms.

We specialise in residential design planning and project management. Not only will our boutique concept make you feel special, you’ll also enjoy a shared design experience complimented by the highest industry standards and commitment to quality.

For more information: T - 07790 075702 W - gtbathrooms.com E - gtbathrooms@gmail.com

GT Bathrooms

BEACH HAIR

BY ANDREW COLLINGE

We’ve seen a shift towards textured hairstyles in 2017 and even before beach season began, the tousled look had become the hairstyle of choice on many a spring summer catwalk.

One of the standout SS17 shows saw Alexander Wang bleach models hair and completely transform their looks. Hairstylist Sam McKnight stated his inspiration for this collection as the classic surfer girl look and his hairstyles were heavily textured, with plenty of teasing, twisting and roughed up waves.

Forget the idea of the perfect finish, as this trend is all about creating the illusion of being undone and effortless. It will lend itself well to the beach where the elements have a tendency to play havoc with your hair.

There are a few key products you can use to help you achieve beach waves. ​CO by Andrew Collinge Volume mousse​ is the ideal product for diffusing hair to create waves, curls and natural texture. It will help you add volume and hold to your style without adding any heaviness in the hair. Our volume mousse has been made with extra conditioners whilst it also provides UV protection for your hair, making it the perfect product to use when hitting the beach.

CO by Andrew Collinge Hair Moisturiser​is another convenient product to use between washes as it can be spritzed into the hair any time to replace lost moisture and will act as a leave in conditioner. On hot summer days it will rejuvenate hair and restore its vitality.

Another key hair trend for Spring Summer 2017 is the wet sleek look and this can be worn in many ways. A selection of designers used slicked back styles to complement their spring summer collections and whilst Thakoon sent models down the runway with tight, wet shiny top knots, Stella McCartney’s models showed off swept back sleek styles and Thierry Mugler’s models wore perfect glossy centre partings. If you’re taking to the sea, you’re halfway to achieving this look, which makes it a great option for the beach. Adding ​CO by Andrew Collinge Definer​ to towel dried hair will give hair a shiny sleek finish for longer and i​ts unique gel serum formulation will help control frizz, smooth down flyaways.

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To purchase your ticket go to tweedmill.co.uk/fashionshow

BEACH STYLE

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M&S COLLECTION SWIMSUIT £35 WWW.MARKSANDSPENCER.COM

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M&S COLLECTION TANKINI TOP £25, M&S COLLECTION BIKINI BOTTOM £14 M&S COLLECTION HAT £15 WWW.MARKSANDSPENCER.COM

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THE PERFECT SUMMER FRAGRANCE

by Annabel Birtles

As summer arrives we are greeted with an array of new styles and that familiar desperation to find that perfect summer look in a world of disposable fashion. However, whilst searching for what floral clothing to wear, many of us overlook the most important detail as no summer look can be complete without a fragrance to complement those fresh aromas that summer presents. To help with this I have narrowed down some of my favourite signature scents for this warm season.

YVES SAINT LAURENT BLACK OPIUM FLORAL SHOCK EAU DE PARFUM The ultimate go-to-gal of the perfume world and my top pick. YSL’s signature black opium collection spirals around the seasons creating the perfect smell for every occasion. This summer, Floral shock comes out on top with its beautiful blend of black coffee and vanilla and hints of orange blossom and gardenias is what makes this fragrance electrifyingly ideal for every summer event come day or night that will leave you wanting more. £70.50/50ml

BRONZE GODDESS ESTEE LAUDER This sensuous, sun-kissed blend of Bergamot, warm amber, tiare flower and vanilla combined with creamy coconut will leave any wearer feeling enriched.

This exotic fragrance transports you to a dream destination of relaxation and even if you may not be near an expensive beach... you will definitely smell like one. £59.00/100ml

MOLTON BROWN COASTAL CYPRESS AND SEA FENNEL For that instant coastal feeling, this sea soaked fragrance for him will transport you to your ultimate beach spot to be immersed in hints of salt-sprayed cypress with earthly cedarwood and musk, refreshed with a modern twist of zesty bergamot and fig leaf accord. This long lasting scent will allow you to transport yourself to those sandy beaches and sea breeze craved for and will leave you booking your next holiday. £49.00/50ml

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LIZ EARLE BOTANICAL ESSENCE This fine fragrance contains fifteen of the world’s most precious botanicals, which have been handcrafted to produce a beautiful scent. With bursts of pink pepper, bergamont, the spice of cinnamon and cypriol coupled with the enchantment held from damask rose and sandalwood fragrances, this perfume gives the perfect image of an ethereal goddess surrounded by bursts of freshness and spices, creating a majestic world.

Derived from natural ingredients makes this the perfect scent for a creative summer day. £54.00/50ml

TOM FORD SOLEIL BLANC EAU DE PARFUM Described as a sultry summer night with the perfect blend of the floral seductiveness of amber, Tom Ford effortlessly portrays the endless pursuit of sun and luxury that defines him. An oriental scent for those with a more exotic desire and a night time passion. £155.00/50ml

MARC JACOBS DAISY EAU SO FRESH KISS This fruity, floral scent would compliment any sweet summer outfit. Ideal for those with a sweeter taste with the enrichment blend of rose petals, cherry blossom and peonies followed by a hint of rustic ceasar wood, allows the wearer to flourish even on those hot summer days. Packaged perfectly in a pretty in pink bottle to inject a vivid burst of colour, styled with the signature daisies on the cap. £49.00/50ml

THE

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FREE TEA/COFFEE FOR 2 VALID UNTIL 31st AUGUST 2017. NOT TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY OTHER OFFER. WIRRAL LIFEAUG17

OPEN ALL OVER THE BANK HOLIDAY

A GUIDE TO SUMMER SKIN

by Alison Quinn

Having worked in the Beauty Industry for nearly 20 years, I’m always striving to find the best products for my clients, family and friends. In January this year, I discovered Tropic Skincare, I fell in love with their mission which is to empower women through beautiful, premium, natural ingredient skincare and body care products. Something very important to me is that they never have and never will test on animals or use derivatives

that cause them stress, they are a 100% cruelty free brand. The products are freshly made everyday in the Surrey Beauty Kitchen so I know how fresh they are. But most importantly to me, the products smell and feel amazing, they are just amazing to use and I love to pamper my clients with them, it certainly is beauty with a conscience. All products are available to buy at: www.tropicskincare.co.uk/shop/alisonquinn

STEP 1 - EXFOLIATE

STEP 4 - SUMMER GODDESS

Body Smooth - refreshing body polish Our founding product, a nourishing body exfoliator for skin that’s super soft and smooth. Mineral rich sea salts remove dead skin cells and polish skin Golden jojoba and macadamia oils deeply hydrate and soften. An invigorating blend of lemon myrtle, bergamot and lime essential oils. £24, 200ml, code 1A

STEP 2 - MOISTURISE WITH GRADUAL TAN Summer Skin - Gradual tanning lotion A gradual-build, nourishing self-tan lotion, to mimic the colour of your own melanin and build a natural, sun-kissed glow. Created using patented technology plant allo-melanin, clinically proven to outperform traditional tanning agents.

Coconut oil, mango butter and beetroot amino acids hydrate and prepare the skin for an even tan. £24, 250ml code 1Y

STEP 3 - INSTANT GLOW Instant Glow - perfecting leg serum (can be used all over the body) A musthave instant bronzing serum for utterly flawless skin. Natural caramel and gold shimmer particles instantly boost skin luminosity. Enriched with repairing arnica extract to reduce the appearance of bruises and scar.s With coffee butter and vitamin E to tone and rejuvenate your skin. £28, 250ml code 1X

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Summer Goddess - shimmering body oil. A stunning body oil infused with golden shimmer perfect for those who want that radiant holiday glow.

With organic virgin coconut and jojoba oils to hydrate and nourish skin. Scents from Tahitian and bourbon vanilla keep you smelling delicious. £28, 150ml code 1SGS

STEP 5 - ESSENTIAL SKIN PROTECTION NEW Skin Shade - Mineral sunscreen A broad spectrum, water resistant mineral sunscreen range to keep skin protected from the sun and prevent premature ageing 100% mineral protection from zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Exotic Kahai and roucou oils rich in omega fatty acids keep skin soft and hydrated Extracts of antioxidant-rich Australian Kakadu and illawarra plum protect the skin. £28, 200ml

STEP 6 - FACE PROTECTION NEW Tinted skin shade - mineral facial sun protection A tinted facial sun screen to keep your face protected throughout the day and prevent skin ageing. Extracts of Passion flower oil high in omega 6, retain your skins natural moisture.

Australian aniseed myrtle and wild hibiscus flower extract actively eliminate free radicals and promote younger looking skin. Tinted to provide sheer coverage for radiant skin. £24, 50ml

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

Snore no more.

Fotona Nightlase is a type of laser therapy that can treat your snoring problem and reduce or eliminate it all together. It’s non-invasive and there’s no surgery involved. A carefully monitored and controlled laser light is applied to the oral mucosa tissue to produce a tightening effect.

There is no downtime!

These procedures 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

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EMBRACE THE OPTIONS

BY RICHARD GIBSON

Richard Gibson, Principal of Wallasey Orthodontics and Consultant to Liverpool University Dental Hospital talks to us about dentistry.

When it comes to maximising the potential of your natural teeth, orthodontics wins – hands down! A non-destructive, conservative approach to straightening your teeth, dazzling with your smile or improving your bite is not only possible – but more accessible than you think. After a thorough discussion and examination with your orthodontist they will talk you through the options available to manage your individual case.

Broadly speaking active orthodontic appliances fall into 3 categories; removable, functional and fixed braces.

Removable braces encompass any appliance that the patient can remove themselves during a course of treatment. As a child, simple removable appliances made from acrylic (usually with metal clips) can be used to make subtle changes to the position of teeth using tipping movements. These appliances can be used for adults but tend to be less well tolerate and severely limited in their action. In the adult mainstream market, the largest provider of removable appliances is Invisalign – who produce a sequence of aligners (clear plastic gumshields) to facilitate tooth movements. Aligner therapy has been incredibly well marketed and has its place in the orthodontic arena. Originally, it was aimed at the general high street dentist and again allowed tooth movements limited to tipping teeth into a straighter position. More recently the theoretical side of the process has started to catch up with the marketing hype, with the development of attachments (small tooth coloured blobs) stuck to the tooth surface to give greater scope to elicit more substantial changes. Regardless of the intention, aligners are worn for 2-3 weeks before moving onto the next in the series – treatment time is dictated by the complexity of the movements and of course how often you remember to put the aligners in! Although removable – they are intended for nearly full-time wear (23 out of 24 hours a day).

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Functional appliances are largely restricted to growing patients (adolescents) and are intended to guide the development of the teeth and jaws by posturing the patient into a new bite. Research has proven their impact to be largely on the teeth (70%) but some skeletal changes are seen (30%) and can offer some impact on the profile of a patient. These braces are largely removable but do come in different shaped and sizes. Fixed versions are available and can have a positive effect in young adults as well.

Finally, the biggest sector of appliances are fixed braces. Fixed braces offer a specialist the opportunity to have full control over both the crown and root of the teeth and therefore don’t limit the treatment outcomes or the aspirations of the patient. 3D control affords the ability to leave the teeth in the most stable long-term position. Fixed braces are made up of 3 parts; the bracket, the wire and the ligature (the item that holds the wire into the bracket). The brackets can be placed on the front of the teeth or hidden around the back – both offering the same level of control. When on the labial surface (front of the teeth) a silver bracket affords high efficiency and reliability but lacks the aesthetic merits of a tooth coloured ceramic (porcelain) bracket. On the lingual surface (back of the tooth) a custom made gold bracket is preferential due to the varied anatomy on the back of the teeth and therefore hidden out of sight.

It’s fair to say that not all the above appliances are appropriate for everyone but discussing the available options with a specialist orthodontist will ensure you receive the most suitable solution.

With 0% interest and affordable payment plans – the smile you’ve always wanted has never been so close.

Contact us for a complementary smile check with our qualified orthodontic therapist or book in for a full consultation to embrace your smile. 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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ARE YOU SUFFERING FROM EMAIL & TEXT APNEA?

BY JOEL JELEN, BREATHING EXPERT The focus on breathing better for health has slowly gathered pace over the last 10 years thanks to the likes of yoga, mindfulness and meditation practices.

Some people I’ve worked with refer to what I do in retraining people’s breathing using Buteyko techniques as ‘the next yoga’.

Regardless, the process of raising awareness of Buteyko has been made easier partly through how many people overbreathe on a daily basis in and outside of work. Many of you during the day will spend seven hours or more in front of screens each day, albeit on email or texting. Emmanuel Stamatakis a researcher in the field, found that “…even those who exercise can’t overcome the detrimental effects of too much screen time.”

Many people habitually shallow breathe or hold their breath when they email. They comment that their breathing is completely different when walking around compared with being on a computer. Another researcher and author Linda Stone spent seven months observing and talking with others about email apnea, and even tested friends at her dining room table, using a simple device that tracked pulse and heart rate variability (HRV). She also spoke with researchers, clinicians, psychologists, and neuroscientists to get a sense of what happens to our physiology on cumulative shallow breathing and breath holding.

It was Stone who conjured the phrase email apnea or screen apnea, which means, temporary cessation of breath or shallow breathing while working (or playing!) in front of screens.

She also noticed that only about 80% of the people observed and tested had email apnea. Twenty percent did not have it. She then became very interested in the 20%! The people who didn’t have email apnea were dancers, musicians, an iron man athlete and high performance athletes and a test pilot. When she questioned these people, she learned that they had been taught breathing techniques to manage their energy and emotions.

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Drs. Margaret Chesney and David Anderson have demonstrated that cumulative breath holding contributes to stress-related diseases. The body becomes acidic, the kidneys begin to reabsorb sodium, and as the balance of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitric oxide becomes compromised, our biochemistry is thrown off. Nitric Oxide (not to be confused with nitrous oxide, the “laughing gas” used in the dentist’s office) has been implicated in immune function, learning, memory and cognition, sleeping, weight, feeling pain, and inflammation.

With email apnea, or compromised breathing, we tend to go into a “fight or flight” or stressed state. Consider that when we’re afraid, we inhale and hold our breath. We become hyper alert to noises and motion. The body resources itself to run from danger. In a fight or flight state, the sympathetic nervous system, or the fight or flight nervous system, is activated and causes the liver to dump glucose and cholesterol and the heart rate increases. We crave sugar and carbohydrates. If you notice that you have email apnea, what can you do?

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Awareness - The next time you look something up on your smartphone, or catch yourself responding to a text or email, notice: Are you breathing or holding your breath? Are you aware of your whole body? Or are you mostly aware of the keyboard, your fingers (and your typos!)? Are you holding yourself stiffly or does your body feel relaxed?

Take a break! - Get up once an hour for at least 5-10 minutes. Walk around and take a break. In Finland, students take a break every 45 minutes for 15 minutes and this has been shown to be effective.

Dance - Dancing is a terrific exercise. It can help with breathing, posture, and moving to rhythm.

Sing - Singing is a great way to learn breathing techniques and to improve lung capacity.

Joel Jelen is founder of Reset Breathing. More details can be found at www.resetbreathing.com

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DIABETES - SUGAR IS NOT ALWAYS SWEETER!

BY CONOR MAGEE MD FRCS, CONSULTANT SURGEON It is a startling fact that a physician from hundreds of years ago could time-travel to 21st century Wirral and still diagnose diseases we have today. One such disease is diabetes - or to be more precise diabetes mellitus “the siphoning through of the sweet urine”. Our time-travelling doctor would diagnose diabetes by firstly taking a history - the story of the problem.

Typical symptoms such as passing large volumes of urine, tiredness, recurrent skin infections would be noted. Next, they would perform an examination- namely tasting the urine to see if it was sweet. Now - that is something I am glad the 21st century has progressed on!

Diabetes Mellitus is a disorder of blood sugar control - the body is unable to reduce the sugar concentration in the blood - the sugar levels cause vast amounts of urine to be produced hence it’s name. The high sugar levels also predispose to infection and damage nerves and blood vessels- particularly in the feet, eye and kidneys, leading to foot ulcers and amputation, blindness and kidney failure.

Most people understand that diabetes can occur if the body does not produce the hormone Insulin - it is Insulin that lowers the body’s blood sugar level and keeps it at a normal concentration. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body can’t produce Insulin, patients are usually diagnosed in childhood and it was invariably a fatal disease- a devastating diagnosis for parents and their children. This was recognised by the ancient Greeks who considered life with diabetes to be “short, disgusting and painful”.

Indeed, it was only in the 1920s that scientists identified Insulin and used it to treat diabetes - a landmark event in medicine that led to the Nobel prize. Countless lives have been saved by Insulin and today patients with type 1 diabetes can expect to lead a normal life. But the surprising thing is the commonest form of diabetes today is type 2 diabetes - unlike type-1 this form of diabetes is caused by the body becoming resistant

to Insulin. Type 2 diabetes is 9 times more common than type1! In fact, in the UK there are over 3 million people with type2 diabetes. The body doesn’t care whether it’s type 1 or type-2 diabetes, the damage is just the same. The difficulty is that as type2 diabetes presents more insidiously, more damage can take place before it is diagnosed.

But why are there so many more patients with type-2 diabetesI’m afraid the answer is largely in our own hands (or forks to be more precise). Obesity is the single biggest driver for type-2 diabetes, as a nation we are getting fatter. As your BMI creeps up slowly the risk of diabetes increases much, much faster. There are a lot of undiagnosed diabetics out there - if you have a high BMI ask you GP to check your blood sugar, we know that early treatment is the best treatment!

The need for early, effective treatment is reinforced by the sheer cost of diabetes to the NHS. The NHS spends £25,000 per minute on treating diabetes. That’s right - per minute. Imagine burning five hundred £50 notes every minute.

Fortunately, surgeons have discovered that there is an operation that can cause type-2 diabetes to go into remission, patients can achieve sugar control without the need for medication. What is truly remarkable is that this is due to a side-effect of the operation we use to make severely obese patients lose weight (an operation called the gastric bypass)- but the magic comes in that the diabetes can disappear even before weight loss takes place!

This form of surgery for type 2 diabetes has been recommended by all the professional diabetes societies and I expect to be very busy over the next few years performing this life-saving surgery!

That’s a lot of information in a short article, I need a cup of tea.

One lump or two?

Mr Magee operates at Spire Murrayfield Hospital and can be contacted there. He can be followed on Twitter @mageefrcs. wirrallife.com 67

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INCONTINENCE & MENOPAUSE

BY PROFESSOR CHARLES KINGSLAND, SDS REJUVENATE Professor Charles Kingsland is a consultant in gynaecology and reproductive medicine at SDS Rejuvenate. He regularly appears on BBC Radio Merseyside and television. Here he talks to us about IncontiLase and IntimaLase.

What is IncontiLase and IntimaLase?

IncontiLase and IntimaLase is a system of laser therapy which works by stimulating collagen growth which leads to vaginal remodelling and increased elasticity of the vaginal walls increasing lubrication and reducing vaginal irregularities.

This is an in-clinic procedure which is minimally invasive and requires no post procedure downtime. It is primarily designed to improve a variety of vaginal irregularities including vaginal laxity, stress urinary incontinence, vaginal dryness and genitourinary syndrome of menopause. The therapy provides hope for oncology patients with treatment induced menopause or for those whom hormonal therapy is sometimes contra-indicated for example, a past history of breast cancer or those who carry the BRCA (1-2) gene.

What does it involve?

The procedure involves a probe being inserted into the vagina and rotated during which a series of laser pulses are directed towards the top and side walls. The procedure takes about twenty minutes and needs to be repeated a further two times, one month apart i.e. a total of three treatments over three months. At each consultation, symptoms will be evaluated before treatment and at each subsequent treatment session, as well as three months following the last treatment.

Does the procedure hurt?

No, it doesn’t. This is an in-clinic treatment that does not require any preparation or post procedure care. It is remarkably painless. However, towards the end of the treatment, you might experience an altered sensation often described as a ‘pin pricking’ sensation rather than discomfort, this is very short lived lasting only seconds.

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What can I expect?

The treatment has been carried out for a number of years in Europe and the results are generally very good. You can expect an improvement in the vaginal tone with the result that your vagina may feel a little tighter and quite significantly any small amount of urine leakage is usually reduced quite dramatically.

Our patients have reported a significant improvement in quality of life and have been very satisfied with the procedure and results. Normally the benefits of the treatment last up to a minimum of two years but in some cases, can be lifelong.

Are there any risks?

The treatment is technically straight forward and fairly risk free.

Occasionally, patients can feel a mild burning sensation for a couple of days and it is important that you refrain from sexual intercourse for two weeks after the procedure, otherwise, the treatment is pain free.

Is this treatment for everybody?

No, not everybody. It is not intended to be a treatment for people with significant incontinence or maybe a prolapse (in these cases surgery maybe the best option). To identify whether you will be suitable for this treatment you will have a consultation with the doctors during which a full medical history will be taken and you will be asked to complete a questionnaire. The doctors will evaluate the information and discuss your suitability for this laser treatment. If treatment is deemed suitable you will undergo a quick gynaecological examination and your urine sample will be tested.

How do I get more information on the procedure?

The clinic has experience of three qualified doctors with extensive experience in the field of General Medicine, General Practice and Gynaecology. Visit www.sdsrejuvenate.co.uk for more information.

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TRAVEL INSPIRATION AUSTRALIA’S GOLD COAST From one of the most popular beach fronts in the world to some of the laziest secluded coves, nowhere is the variety of Australia’s iconic beach culture celebrated like it is on the Gold Coast. The city boasts 42 golden beaches each with their own personality. Each is pristine, perfect in its own way, with a natural energy to revitalise the senses.

Deservedly known around the world for crystal clear waters, 300 days of sunshine each year and guaranteed waves, the Gold Coast’s 57km of sundrenched beaches are the perfect playground to swim, snorkel, surf or simply splash. Beaches on the Gold Coast provide a very welcoming, village feel. Whether immersed in the action of lively Surfers Paradise, lazy secluded coves in Tallebudgera or at laid-back Burleigh, each beach is pristine, perfect in its own way. Wide expanses of sand are ideal for walking, while the more secluded enclaves feature an exclusively intimate, private feel. What many people don’t know about the Gold Coast is that it has nine times more waterways than Venice with over 260 kilometres of navigable waterways within the City.

The Gold Coast is home to a spectacular network of waterways which are made up of five main rivers, numerous creeks, lakes, canals and the magnificent Broadwater, culminating to create a haven of funfilled pursuits.

MUST DO • If simply swimming among the surf at some of the best beaches in the world isn’t enough, then a learn-to-surf class guided by world champions is a must.

• Take in a guided cruise of the waterways, or create your own adventure on a stand-up paddleboard or kayaking expedition.

• If you’re after something more laidback, board a catamaran, tall-ship cruise or yacht to admire the magnificent Gold Coast city skyline at sunset or try your hand at deep-sea fishing.

• Marvel during a whale-watching tour.

• For the thrill seekers, try jet boating, parasailing, kite surfing,

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scuba diving, jet-ski safaris, snorkelling.

Picnic among the secluded rock pools at Currumbin or enjoy a family outing at the Evandale swimming area.

When you’ve caught your last wave of the day, head to one of the local Surf Life Saving Clubs (SLSC) located in prime position on most Gold Coast beaches. Visitors are very welcome to enjoy the superb view alongside delicious food, drink and of course, entertainment.

FINDING YOUR IDEAL BEACH Just like any community or neighbourhood, each beach enjoys its own style and personality. The Gold Coast’s central beaches are all about action, in the lively quarters of Surfers Paradise, Main Beach, Broadbeach, and Burleigh locals and visitors are attracted by the popular ‘see and be seen’ beaches.

Broadbeach or “Broadie” to locals is a family-friendly beach with beautiful beaches and parks with barbecues and playgrounds nearby and perfectly located close to restaurants, cafes and shops.

Protected by Burleigh Headland from south-easterly winds, Burleigh is probably the second most popular surfing beach on the Gold Coast.

The Spit is one of the Gold Coast’s well-kept surfing secrets, providing surfers with good beach breaks regardless of swell direction. For those who like their space, one big advantage is that there are plenty of access points for surfers to be able to find a beach break with very few other surfers in the water.

If you’re looking for a quiet family beach perfect for little ones, then Budds Beach is for you. This beach is centrally located off Ferny Avenue in Surfers Paradise so it’s close enough, but as it’s positioned on the Nerang River, you won’t have to worry about bigger waves.

For more information, visit www.visitgoldcoast.com wirrallife.com 69

WIRRAL TIME TRAVEL

BY ANDREW WOOD

BEBINGTON BELOW THE SKIN

With precious few exceptions Wirral is singularly lacking in imposing examples or ancient or even moderately old architecture. In the case of Bebington the most imposing exception is St Andrew’s parish church, which dates from the 14th and 16th centuries and stands on the site of a Saxon church.

If we are to connect with and envision our shared past, we must treasure the few remaining examples of modest, domestic buildings and both the natural shape and man-made features of the landscape. What kindled my desire to connect on a deeper level with the place where I live was the largely unremarked and unresisted destruction of Church Farm in Bromborough Road, Bebington.

The farm probably took its name because it occupied glebe lands which were associated with St Andrew’s. The farmhouse and yard had survived long after the farmland had been built on. Within living memory it had been used as a coal yard. For some years the two-storey house had been left empty and the yard overgrown. The two-storey house was not attractive to look at. However, when its demolition began, to make way for yet another high-density apartment development, the farm house’s grey pebble-dash fell away revealing the original Keuper Sandstone, that had probably come from Storeton Quarry. By then it was too late, if anyone had cared, to save another part of our heritage from destruction.

For millenia, the Wirral was completely rural; soft, productive farmland punctuated by scattered farmsteads and small settlements. No more than six churches - at Wallasey, Overchurch, West Kirby, Woodchurch and Bebington - were required to provide for the spiritual needs of its pre-Conquest population. Some 500 years later, John Speed’s 1610 map of Cheshire records only one additional church, at Thursaston.

The heavily built-up Wirral of today dates back no further than the second half of the 19th century and its development only really got into its stride after the Great War, as evidenced by the considerable number of semi-detached houses on the ‘Sunshine House’ model, so called because, with windows front and back

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and on one side, they provide much greater amounts of daylight than terraced houses.

One hundred and fifty years is only two or three generations yet, with Church Farm gone there are no more than twenty buildings of that age or older left in the village. In addition to St Andrew’s, they include the much-photographed ‘Willow Cottage’ in Bebington Road, ‘Heath Cottage’ (the oldest part of which dates to 1750 or even earlier) at the bottom of Heath Road, and the “Rose & Crown” inn and the charming ‘Parkview’ terrace (1832) in The Village. The slightly disjointed row of houses in Toleman Avenue comes into this age group, as do the four houses in the unadopted dead-end lane off The Grove.

The owner of the nearest of the houses to The Grove told the author that its sandstone walled cellar and ground floor predate the upper floors. Across in Acres Road, where it bends sharply left then right, the two single-storey cottages and the adjoining two-storey house (occupied at one time by the schoolmaster of the original St Andrew’s School, which stood where Acreville Road is now) are all over 170 years old. In the short length of The Village before it becomes Bebington Road, the “Wellington Inn” and the rear parts of the invaluable Tapley’s art and craft shop (No.6 The Village) and the adjoining cottage (No.4) are of similar vintage.

All of these buildings are marked on the Tithe Map of 1844.

There were, at that time, only about seventy buildings in the whole of Lower Bebington, (sometimes called Nether Bebington). The church was isolated to the south-east of the core of the village, which clustered around the junction of Heath Road and The Village. It has been speculated that the Heath was common land on which animals were grazed. The boundaries of the settlement were effectively Townsend Lane to the east, Richmond Hill to the north, Green Lane to the west and the junction of Church Road and Bromborough Road to the south.

Among the vanished buildings of the village are ‘Oaklands’, which lay on the north side of Richmond Hill, and bequeathed its name to Oaklands Drive, and ‘The Acres’ which, conversely,

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seems to have taken its name from the pre-existing Acres Road.

‘Greenbank’, another large and attractive house, which used to stand in the part of Meyer Park through which Townfield Lane runs, has left more solid evidence in the form of the miniscule Lodge on the south side of The Grove, and a raised area in the park where its tennis court once stood.

The land climbs from Bebington village towards the Storeton ridge, which is over 164 feet (50 metres) above sea level, a rise of some 66 feet in 1,640 yards (20 metres in 1.5 kilometres).

Historically, it appears that before the Enclosure Acts the Town Field, the second of the large open fields related to the village would have stretched over at least the area now occupied by the Cemetery and the Cricket Ground, Higher Bebington Recreation Ground and Bebington High Sports College.

While the Town Field could have supported crops, it is more likely that the Heath Field, at a higher elevation, more exposed to the weather and largely clay, would have been used for grazing. By 1844, however, as a result of the enclosures the village was surrounded by a counterpane of relatively small hedged fields.

In the opposite direction from the junction with The Village, Bebington Road curved eastward, passing an isolated group of houses at Primrose Hill (where Duke of York Cottages now stand) on its way to The Pasture, as New Ferry was called until the pier and ferry service were opened in 1865. George Stephenson’s Birkenhead and Chester railway is shown on the Tithe Map, having been opened four years earlier. It is interesting to note that, as this map was principally concerned with the ownership and acreage of land, the area of land occupied by the railway is marked, but not the tracks or the bridge that carries them over Bebington Road. The Storeton tramway, opened in 1838, that carried sandstone from the Storeton quarries to a quay on Bromborough Pool, is given its original name of ‘Sir W S M Stanley’s Railway’. We can infer that a stream shown running parallel to Old Chester Road before disappearing under Bebington Road and emerging south of Primrose Hill as a tributary of Bromborough Pool, is the Ash Brook which gives its name to ‘Ashbrook Terrace’ not far from the station.

By the time the NW Quarter of the ‘Denbigh and Wirral’ map in the 1” to 1 mile Ordnance Survey map was revised in 1859, Thomas Brassey’s arrow-straight New Chester Road had appeared to the east of the Birkenhead and Chester railway, but Lower Bebington had grown little since the Tithe Map had been surveyed. However, the Second Edition OS map of 1899 shows that, by then, Bebington had acquired a number of large houses surrounded by generous gardens.

The incumbent of St Andrew’s had been provided with a new Rectory opposite the church and had moved out of Bebington Hall (which was purchased by Bebington Urban District Council for use as offices and finally demolished in the 1950s).

In addition, there were a number of semi-detached villas in Higher Bebington Road, Church Road, Bromborough Road and Wellington Road. The middle class had arrived in the village.

On the 1899 OS map it is impossible to miss, to the east of the Chester railway, William Lever’s Sunlight Soap Works, Gladstone Hall and the first phase of Port Sunlight village between the factory and Bolton Road. Although the Storeton Tramway, which ran parallel to the imposing facade of the factory offices, was already marked as ‘disused’ on the 1899 map, it would be another thirteen years before Lord Leverhulme succeeded in buying and removing it.

It is often noted that Bebington is not mentioned in the Domesday Book and, oddly enough, Map 38 in the Barthomew’s Touring Atlas of the British Isles, published in 1900, names Port Sunlight and even Trafalgar at the bottom of Quarry Road East, yet the name Bebington is omitted altogether. Within another forty years, however, Bebington would be sufficiently enlarged with new housing that it would be impossible for any map-maker to ignore.

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CREDIT: CARL GARTLAND

THE ART OF NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY Jacqui Barry and Jo Taylor-Jones are the mums behind Amberlight Images, professional newborn & baby photographers based on the Wirral. Their individual take on providing a bespoke service to their tiny clients is proving a huge success with new mums and dads looking to preserve precious memories of their beautiful newborns.

What is it that you do?

We work with brand new babies, usually between 5 and 14 days old, in the comfort of their own home. Combining our soft textures and fabrics with gentle lighting, we capture dreamy shots while baby sleeps all curled up as they were in the womb. Mumsto-be who want to start their newborn story early are booking our studio-styled maternity sessions for some beautiful ‘bump’ images. Later, we love to see our newborns returning as older babies for their Milestone Sessions, where they show us their growing personalities as they start to sit and walk on their own.

These memories are priceless and we are absolutely honoured to share them with our clients and capture these moments on camera for them to treasure forever.

How did your business start?

We have both always been interested in cameras and photography growing up, but starting Amberlight was a career change for both of us. Moving from the worlds of Finance and Technology into Photography coincided with our personal desires to create a business which we were passionate about and fitted perfectly with our own growing families. We started out mainly as wedding photographers but the move into the unique challenges of photographing newborns began when Jo’s sister had a much longed-for little boy. We discovered a love and affinity for this type of photography and haven’t looked back since.

What is the ethos behind your business?

We understand, as mums ourselves, how fleeting the newborn phase is, and how those early days can be an absolute whirlwind 72 wirrallife.com

with very little sleep. Our aim is to provide a relaxing and enjoyable experience for our new parents whilst we work with their baby to create beautiful newborn artwork. This is why all our newborn sessions take place in our client’s homes – so they don’t have to travel and pack bags to be out of the house with their little one for the day. We offer a bespoke and high quality service, taking care of all the small details that make the difference. We use professional cameras and equipment, take time to source beautiful props and outfits and work with professional print labs to provide the best quality prints and artwork to showcase our newborn art. Our whole ethos is about providing the best service we possibly can – and our clients seem to get this completely.

When they tell us not only how they love their images, but also loved the experience as a day to remember, it brings a tear to our eye every time. This feedback makes what we do the best and most rewarding job in the world!

Everyone has their mobile phone with them 24/7, why should people pay for professional photography?

We all take photos on our phones, and they are perfect for capturing the moment you are in. There is a saying that the best camera in the world is the one that you have there at the right moment! Photography as a trade can be somewhat under-rated these days, when everyone has a mobile phone with them at all times, but just like having a tennis racket does not mean that everyone can play like Andy Murray, what a mobile phone can’t duplicate is the hours of training and practice, or the lighting and skill in post-processing that create a styled image that can be displayed as a work of art.

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Newborn photography is really taking off in the UK, what are you doing to respond to the increase in demand?

Whilst we are often inundated with enquiries, we have made a conscious choice not to increase the number of sessions we offer.

We book a limited number of newborns each month to ensure that we can give all our families the high end and bespoke service they expect. Babies rarely arrive on schedule and this flexibility is key to our ethos - we are happy to limit our numbers and keep our quality service. This is why we recommend our mums-to-be book early, around their 20-week scan to secure their place in our diary.

You have recently been awarded a global accolade, with a place in the Top 75 Newborn Baby Blogs compiled by Feedspot Blogreader. How important is your blog to the business?

Our blog is a key part of our business. We use it to showcase a selection of our sessions, so that prospective clients can view our work and decide if our approach and style of photography is right for them. We also use our blog as a cornerstone in our aim to support new parents on their journey through pregnancy to the early days with their new baby. Being able to create relevant articles and share information to help them gives us a lot of personal satisfaction, as we know from our own experiences how bewildering it can be at times as a new mum or dad.

What’s next for Amberlight Images?

We absolutely love what we do. Our focus remains on providing an exceptional service to our clients. We are also excited about a new project working closely with some other local baby businesses to provide support and information to prospective and new parents on the Wirral.

For more information, visit www.amberlightimages.co.uk. wirrallife.com 73

WIRRAL BUSINESS

by Wirral Chamber of Commerce

THE JUDGING PANEL

WIRRAL BUSINESS AWARDS 2017 The finalists for the Wirral Business Awards 2017 have been announced.

The shortlist consists of 40 organisations, who will now compete across ten categories with winners being announced at the gala dinner held at Thornton Manor on 22nd September.

Organised by Wirral Chamber of Commerce and now in its eleventh year, the event is supported by headline sponsors Progress to Excellence Group Ltd and Russell Taylor Group.

standard of entries this year have again been extremely high and consequently was very difficult choosing those which are going forward to the next stage, but I offer my congratulations to all the applicants and finalists.”

Speaking of the applications, Ben Miller thought, “The entries for this year’s Wirral Business Awards are well placed to achieve even greater business success in the year ahead. I am delighted that Wirral has a thriving business community which is bringing innovation and success to the area.”

Recognised as one of the region’s largest and most prestigious business events, it highlights the innovation and enterprise the community has in making Wirral and the wider city region as locations of business excellence.

Alan Evans summarised, “Wirral Council is proud to be part of the Wirral Business Awards 2017, and the diversity of the companies entering this year, large and small, new and established, was outstanding and will all play key roles in Wirral’s future business growth.”

A four-strong judging panel decided which entries made it through to the final in each category, comprising Chris Fry (Office Senior Partner at KPMG in the UK), Ben Miller (Partner at DLA Piper), Alan Evans (Strategic Commissioner for Growth for Wirral Council) and Paula Basnett (CEO of Wirral Chamber of Commerce).

It is expected that more than 500 leading business people will attend the Gala Dinner at Thornton Manor on September 22nd when the awards will be presented on what promises to be one of the region's largest business networking events of the year.

Paula Basnett said, "We are very proud to organise this annual event on behalf of our business community. This year we received a record number of entries and the quality excelled which made the judging extremely difficult. However, I am confident that the chosen finalists are great ambassadors in representing the best of Wirral’s businesses."

The event is also supported by Typhoo (Reception Sponsor), Mills Media Group (AV Presentation Partner) and Let’s Go! Design and Print (Print and Design Partner).

Wirral Business Awards 2017 will be the biggest night on the business calendar. Book your tickets for the event at: www.wirralbusinessawards.com/ Chris Fry added, “The awards demonstrate the huge contribution book-tickets. We look forward to seeing you on 22nd businesses make to the economic growth and prosperity of our September! local economy through national and international trade. The 74 wirrallife.com

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BUSINESS AWARDS2017

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MEET THE 2017 FINALISTS Newcomer of the Year sponsored by Stiebel Eltron UK

Sustainability Award sponsored by Unilever

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Hygienic Innovations Roberts Snack Shack Sure Solutions Three Dimensional Training

Business of the Year (under 11 employees) sponsored

by Pacific Sheds • • • •

Blackberry Grove Gud Design Red Apple Education Vigo IT Solutions

Business of the Year (11-49 employees) sponsored by McEwan Wallace • • • •

hi-impact consultancy Hoist UK Horner Downey Plus Point

Business of the Year (50+ employees) sponsored by NW Systems Group • • • •

Capital Reinforcing CPL Training Group Russell Taylor Group Typhoo Tea

B&M Waste Services Brooklet Farm & Livery Floral Pavilion Stiebel Eltron UK

People Development Award sponsored by B&M Waste Services • • • •

AF Global Capital Reinforcing Cirrus Purchasing Ltd Unilever

Customer Service Award sponsored by The Contact Company – (winner to be decided by Public Vote) • • • •

Auger Inteb Managed Services LBW Accountants The Light Cinema

Outstanding Business of the Year sponsored by Wirral Council •

The judges will select one winner from all entries received and the winner will be revealed on the night.

HEADLINE SPONSOR MESSAGES:

Business Person of the Year sponsored by Smylie Ltd • • • •

AF Global - Keith Taylor Joanne Finnerty Recruitment - Joanne Finnerty Plus Point - Mark Sweeney Russell Taylor Group - Ben Russell

Rising Star sponsored by Young Chamber • • • •

The Jackson Canter Group – Katherine Spaughton Joanne Finnerty Recruitment – Claire Statham Passport Language Solutions – Jennifer Foulds Vigo IT Solutions – Tom Barbat

Sandra Kirkham, Managing Director of Progress to Excellence Group, said: "We are delighted to be a Headline Sponsor for the Wirral Business Awards 2017. The decision was easy and based on the principle that Wirral Chamber of Commerce and Progress to Excellence Group jointly recognise the importance of applauding individuals and businesses that continue to impact on our longterm regional economic success.”

International Trade Award sponsored by Peel Group • • • •

AEV Paragon Scientific Regal Wholesale Tranmere Rovers FC

#WBA17 @WirralAwards

Ben Russell, Chief Executive, Russell Taylor Holdings said, “There are some exceptional businesses this year across all categories proving that Wirral has some of the UK’s most dynamic companies, not only putting the region on the map as a major industrial and commercial force but also contributing on a huge scale to the local economy. I wish all of them the best of luck on the night which will be a chance to celebrate the best of Wirral businesses.” wirrallife.com 75

WIRRAL’S VISITOR ECONOMY TO MOVE FORWARD THROUGH PARTNERSHIP Tourism in Wirral is set to receive a massive boost following the launch of the new Visitor Economy Strategy 2017-20.

The initiative will build on Wirral’s existing successful assets, in addition to growing the number of businesses operating in its visitor economy to enhance the quality and diversity of Wirral’s offer. The strategy will concentrate on driving growth to reach £450 million visitor annual expenditure and increase visitor numbers to over 9 million by 2020.

Following the launch event at The Village Hotel in July, Wirral Council, Wirral Chamber of Commerce and the Wirral Visitor Economy Network (WVEN), will now build partnerships with key sector stakeholders such as hoteliers, restaurants and attractions from across Wirral and further afield.

A new Visitor Economy delivery team will be based within the Wirral Chamber of Commerce to develop a marketing strategy, which will include: • A digital destination venue directory hosted on Visit Wirral; • A 3 year business plan to attract more conferences, exhibitions and events; • An established destination lead for conference & corporate events; • Marketing, research and bidding opportunities; • Partnerships supporting product packaging and development of themed itineraries for the travel trade; • Commercially led events model to focus on key events space in Wirral.

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Paula Basnett, CEO, Wirral Chamber of Commerce is confident that the initiative will achieve growth in developing the visitor economy, she said, “The Wirral Visitor Economy Strategy will help us focus and build on our key assets and drive us forward so we can grow this important sector for the benefit of local businesses and residents.”

Councillor Phil Davies, Leader of Wirral Council added, “The Visitor Economy Strategy is a key part of our plans to grow Wirral’s economy. Wirral Chamber of Commerce will play a pivotal role in delivering the strategy with the aim of attracting more visitors, jobs and investment to the Borough.”

If you would like to read the Visitor Economy Strategy 201720, you can download a PDF from by visiting: ‘bit.ly/WirralVE’

WIRRAL VISITOR ECONOMY STATS SINCE 2010 • •

• • • •

£385M IN EXPENDITURE SUPPORTS OVER 5,000 FULL-TIME JOBS WIRRAL IS THE FASTEST GROWING VISITOR DESTINATION WITHIN LIVERPOOL CITY REGION 8.2m ANNUAL VISITORS 7.42 MILLION DAY VISITORS 266,000 VISITORS STAYED IN HOTELS & GUESTHOUSES 500,000 VISITORS STAYED WITH FRIENDS & RELATIVES

THOUSANDS TURN OUT FOR THE BE IN BIRKENHEAD SUMMER FESTIVAL Birkenhead First’s free one-day family festival made its return this July, taking over the iconic Hamilton Square to showcase some of Wirral’s best small businesses and provide entertainment for the whole family.

Despite the inclement weather, an estimated 4,000 people turned up to revel in the atmosphere, browse the excellent local food vendors and watch the children enjoy an activity packed day in the Grade 1 listed square.

Coinciding with the first week of the summer holidays, the Be in Birkenhead Festival’s was focused on providing families with an enjoyable day out with a host of activities to entertain children and adults alike. Highlights included vintage buses from the Wirral Transport Museum, an inflatable Helter Skelter provided by Sunshine Events, inflatable maze from HYPE, Punch and Judy show, vintage ice cream vans, a traditional carousel, children’s entertainers, arts and crafts from The Hive and circus workshops and activities by The Magical Circus. All these elements came together to provide a fun, summer carnival atmosphere.

As well as showcasing many of the fabulous shops and organisations that Birkenhead has to offer, the event gave local businesses a boost by attracting visitors from all over Merseyside into the town and demonstrating that Birkenhead really is a great place to visit. Wirral Radio hosted excellent live broadcasts from their new Wirral Radio Stage throughout the day and featured performances from local artists including Josh Storey, Wirral Sign Choir and Eliza May all taking to the stage.

Paula Basnett, CEO, Wirral Chamber of Commerce said, “One of three main priorities of Birkenhead First is to help boost our local economy. We have contacted a number of local businesses who have said footfall and sales are up across the whole town centre. This is the second year that we’ve run this event, we are delighted with the result and planning has already begun to make next year’s festival even bigger.”

Paul Griffiths, McDonald’s Franchisee and Birkenhead First Steering Group Member said, “We were thrilled to see thousands turn out. As a business and steering group member for the BID it was really pleasing to see such enthusiasm from the public and business support for the event. Events like this help generate footfall to the town centre and build on the great work already done to create a cleaner and safer Birkenhead.”

Del Willden, Media Executive at Wirral Radio commented further. “We were delighted to be asked to be media partner for the 2017 Be in Birkenhead Summer Festival. This was the second year running and it attracted thousands to Hamilton Square. We provided a full day of live, local entertainment which was well received by those in attendance. We have worked with Birkenhead First for some time now and can see the positive impact it is having on the area. Events like this one demonstrate their commitment to working for Birkenhead, it’s people and businesses.”

For more information, visit @BirkenheadBID on Twitter and Birkenhead First on Facebook.

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MEET DRONE FACTOR Wirral entrepreneurs Sam Barnes and Amy Marshall are ‘Raising the Resolution’ with their new business — Drone Factor Ltd. Launched in April this year, Amy and Sam are making waves across the Wirral and Northwest by embracing leading edge drone technologies. Drone Factor started to take shape in September 2016 and following storm Doris in the early part of this year, the pair decided that the time was right to get trained, licensed and insured to fly UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) commercially. Since then they have started working for blue chip providers such as Iprosurv, Qlaims and other insurance loss adjusters... and that’s before they start printing stunning aerial photography.

During the development of the business plan, which was 90 pages at one point, they realised that they were going to be able to go big with this business in a short period of time.

The nature of drone technologies is such that there is always progress, so planning 6 to 12 months in advance to ensure Drone Factor have the best systems available.

The initial investment training, hardware and setup costs were self funded through Sam’s half time contract teaching at Wirral Metropolitan College and Amy’s job at Marks & Spencer. Sam is now working full time on the business and will be starting a Masters Degree at Liverpool John Moores in September, in Drone Technology and its applications.

Through this he will be developing the next generation of sensor technologies that will be mounted on drones, keeping Drone Factor at the forefront of the sector.

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With support from the Wirral Chamber of Commerce and the Enterprise Team, Drone Factor Ltd took shape and rapidly became one of the new businesses in Wirral to work with.

In the short time they have been operating, they have created promotional videos for Ness Botanical Gardens, created 3D maps of ancient meadows at Royden Park, and have begun developing their system integration with Merseyside Search & Rescue, along with creating a suite of beautiful images of the Wirral and Cheshire along the way.

Amy points out “[how] encouraging it is to have the support of businesses, for example Paul Malone of Moving Soon,” It is clear how driven Drone Factor is to break into the real estate market, creating footage and photography for agents that accelerate property sales.

Drone Factor plan to expand their aerial inventory to accommodate for a wide range of emergency service assistance, including the RNLI, Police and Fire Service, and to accommodate for thermal imaging surveys and long range inspection work. When asked about the new venture and where it might go next, Sam said “We are hugely encouraged by the positive response we’ve had so far; people are simply amazed by our video footage - and that’s before we show them 3D maps. We will be expanding the business in the not to distant future.”

For more information, visit www.dronefactor.co.uk

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Whitfield Business

0151 342 6365 grow@whitfieldbusiness.co.uk www.whitfieldbusiness.co.uk

WHAT is Branding & WHY is it so Important?

Branding is a window on a company, a way to illustrate its qualities, ethos & culture to its clients or indeed the entire world. It is a way to identify products & services, marking them to show that the company is proud to have created them. It is also a way to make the staff feel part of the same team, part of something bigger than the individual.

So how does a company create a brand?

Firstly, they need to consider what image they want to portray to the outside world. Is it a serious company, is it fun, ethical, dynamic, or what other qualities does it value?

From this a color scheme, can be developed. Colors are important and all have different perceptions. For example, green is often associated with with health, tranquility & natural, quality products; an image associated with the likes of M&S or Starbucks. The tone of the color is also important; for example, a bright color depicts a vibrant and youthful quality.

Then there is the number of colors. A minimalistic single color can be ideal for classy, cool products. Triple colors, especially those equally spaced around the color wheel, are great for beautiful looking websites. So, the choice of color scheme sounds like an easy one, but not one to be entered lightly.

Strength Success

Awakening Discovery

Joy

Growth Social

Honesty

Renewal

Energy

Intuition

Balance

Communication

Enthusiasm

Wisdom

Trust

Depth

Creativity Courage

Then there is the logo. What should it say about the company, should it mention the name, what does it say about the ethos of the brand? Will it look great across websites, stationery, as an icon on social media (which are often square), on signage, clothing, etc? Should it be clever & complex or simple (and some of the best-known logos are incredibly simple; think of the Nike tick or the Mercedes star)

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/WhitfieldBusiness

Whitfield Business

0151 342 6365 grow@whitfieldbusiness.co.uk www.whitfieldbusiness.co.uk

A motto or tag line is also important, telling both clients and employees what the company stands for, what it has promised its customers. It can be catchy, clever, fun, whatever the company wants to deliver. KFC promise a ‘finger lickin’ good’ experience - food so tasty you’ll want to lick every bit off your fingers. Remember that if you've made a promise, you must deliver, or the client won’t return.

“It’s in our interest to help you grow” Once these items, and often many more minor branding thoughts have been worked out, the brand must be rolled out across everything. Consistency is vital; logos must be the same size, color, dimensions. The color on the shop sign must be the same as the website and the business cards. Staff must buy into the what the branding is saying and become part of the brand. The branding must run throughout everything from the initial advert to the final invoice.

So how do Whitfield help with this minefield of physiological marketing. Firstly, understanding the company is vital. Whitfield’s team try to understand a company inside and out, especially the owners’ wants & aims to ensure they can deliver something amazing and outstanding.

From there anything is possible from a complete brand concept, with logos, graphics, beautiful design for websites, social media, email marketing & signatures, engaging campaigns; the list is endless. For the start-up, it may be just a simple logo, for an established company it may be a brand refresh' as much or as little as is needed. And is it expensive? Not particularly and certainly a lot cheaper than getting it wrong!

For a FREE Coffee & Consultation Get in touch today

Contact Nik or Justine at grow@whitfieldbusiness.co.uk or call 0151 342 6365

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WIRRAL LIFE TALK TO ALETHEA HEATON, FOUNDER OF FANCY FIZZ Where did you get the idea from to start Fancy Fizz?

It was whilst watching Cheshire Housewives on TV - they had a Prosecco van at the baby’s Christening. I thought what an amazing idea - with my love of Prosecco and Prosecco being so popular now, it was a great business to start. Also, having just had my 40th birthday, I was looking for a new challenge!

So what happened next?

I started research into where I could buy a Piaggio Ape 50 and a company that could convert it into a Prosecco van. I found a supplier in Hull and went to see them. We placed an order in December 2016. The Piaggio was imported from Italy and then converted. I started designing my logo and how I wanted the Piaggio to look. I wanted it to be classy and elegant and to suit any occasion. We took delivery in February 2017.

Prosecco vans seem to be the in thing now?

Yes, they have been around for a year or so and are just starting to come up north. They have become very popular this year for weddings and events as everyone loves something that’s a bit different. We have found that people love the quirky and fun addition to their event. We are excited and delighted to be the first one on the Wirral.

Have you had much help so far?

I’ve been so lucky with friends and family- they have all been really encouraging and supported me with things from website development to towing a vehicle! My husband and mum have been amazing and really supportive.

What’s your market area?

Any celebration where people want Prosecco! I love the wedding industry and so far that market has been great for us. Fancy Fizz is perfect for any event from corporate events to birthdays, 82 wirrallife.com

christenings, festivals, garden parties... the list is endless really. We love a good party and interacting with everyone at the events. It’s a real social business.

It’s not easy setting up a business from scratch is it?

No! It’s been challenging, and certainly harder than I thought. It’s not just serving Prosecco from a bottle! We are serving from pumps, we have had the latest cooling system fitted to serve chilled Prosecco.

We have to brand our Prosecco as Frizzante due to Italian law with it being served from a keg and not a bottle. I have also completed and passed an alcohol licence course which was very interesting.

What events have you done so far?

We have exhibited at Thornton Manor wedding fair and have now become a recommended supplier of theirs. We were at the Parkgate Fest in June which was great fun. The feedback about Fancy Fizz was great and everyone just loves the concept of it! We have 3 wedding fairs booked over the next few months - the first is at the Echo arena followed by Leasowe castle and then at Maritime Museum.

What local support have you had?

I’ve been to Whitfield Business Hub about the social media side of the business and Justine and Nik were great people to talk to, they have lots of ideas too of how we can grow Fancy Fizz. We actually took Fancy Fizz to their work event at the Hub and the Prosecco went down very well!

How do see a Fancy Fizz going forward?

A fleet of Fancy Fizz’s would be great! As long as we can keep serving Prosecco and helping people celebrate their event in a unique and fun way which is what we love to do.

To find out more about Fancy Fizz, please visit: www.fancyfizz.uk

Whitfield Business Hub

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TAPERELL PARTY Once again Tony and Helen Taperell gave up their beautiful garden to host their annual Hog Roast in aid of Claire House, a local Children’s Hospice, raising a fantastic £5,800 this year.

This year the music, kindly donated by John & Wendy Darlington, came from For Cryin Out Loud and Pete Price, of Radio City got involved calling the raffle. The weather held and the sun even showed itself enough to let the children enjoy the Bucking Bronco and eat some of the gorgeous Mon ar Lwy ice cream courtesy of Tweedmill.

Over 100 guests thoroughly enjoyed themselves partying well into the night. Helen Taperell said “We run this annual event to show support for Claire House and the great work they do and once again we are delighted with the turnout of all our friends and family and their generosity.”

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LFC LEGENDS To celebrate 25 years since Liverpool beat Sunderland 2-0 in the 1992 Fa Cup Final, the Shankly Hotel proudly hosted a glorious reunion dinner to honour the winners. This wonderful evening saw Liverpool captain of the day, Mark Wright, reunite with fellow players Dean Saunders who partnered Rush as a striker, midfielder Jan Molby and physio Phil Boersma, for a night of reminiscence and celebration. Set within the stunning Eden venue in The Shankly Hotel, the evening included a delicious 3 course meal and a host of treats for the guests.

Highlights were shown of the historic match and a Q+A was held with the famous players, along with football themed quizzes and games. During the night exclusive memorabilia including shirts and photographs from the day were put on auction and a raffle was held featuring brilliant prizes.

A roaring success, the night was thoroughly enjoyed by all and was a chance for younger fans of the game to learn about the brilliant history of Liverpool FC.

SUMMER STRUM 2017 The 3rd Summer Strum charity ukulele festival took place at Hoylake Rugby Club and was a roaring success. Over 2500 people made the most of the sunshine to attend this free outdoor festival that celebrates community and wellbeing through, predominantly, ukulele music!

The Summer Strum welcome party featured music from popular Liverpool band The Splintered Ukes. The following two days were packed with community jam sessions, workshops, open mic, children’s activities, storytelling, food and drink stalls, artisan sellers and most importantly two stages of live music featuring 40 ukulele bands from the North West and beyond. Highlights were the Trellebelle Ukulele Orchestra from Sweden and a stomping set to finish off the weekend by Parker; Schultz.

Over £1000 was raised each for Wirral Hospice St John’s and Wirral Mind through bucket collections, raffle ticket sales and stall holder contributions.

It was a great weekend for all the family, Summer Strum Hoylake will be back with more of the same next July.

WHITFIELD BUSINESS HUB BBQ Whitfield Business Hub held their annual summer BBQ for their existing and new clients. Prosecco from the Fancy Fizz team was on tap and Whitfield directors Nik & Justine were on charcoal duties.

WIRRAL VISITOR ECONOMY STRATEGY 2017-2020 LAUNCH Wirral Chamber of Commerce have launched the new Wirral Visitor Economy Strategy 2017-2020, in partnership with Wirral Council, at an event held at The Village Hotel, Bromborough.

Presentations took place followed by an opportunity to network, a tour of the newly revamped hotel and a BBQ to celebrate all the wonderful things we have to offer visitors to Wirral.

Paula Basnett, CEO, Wirral Chamber of Commerce is confident that the initiative will achieve growth in developing the visitor economy, she said, “The Wirral Visitor Economy Strategy will help us focus and build on our key assets and drive us forward so we can grow this important sector for the benefit of local businesses and residents.�

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WIRRAL HISTORIC VEHICLE RALLY The Wirral Historic Vehicle Rally, one of Wirral’s most popular vintage and classic car gatherings, saw a cavalcade of up to 100 vintage and classic vehicles (all manufactured prior to December 1973) journey from The Red Fox through the countryside and villages of the Wirral before finishing at Thornton Hough Green.

Following the rally, visitors and spectators had the chance to look inside the eye-catching cars such as Vintage Morgan, MG and Wolsey cars; whilst enjoying local home made cake served with English tea!

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CREDIT: MELVYN HAMID ON A LEICA TL

ANDREW COLLINGE COCKTAILS To celebrate The Clothes Show coming to Liverpool, Andrew & Liz Collinge held a cocktails and canapés evening at the salon. Guests included Wirral’s Olympic Gold Medallist Sam Quek, who is also ambassador for CO by Andrew Collinge.

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NESTON CRICKET CLUB MARQUEE WEEK 2017 Cricket legend Michael Vaughan was the guest speaker at the recent Neston Sporting Lunch, with comedian Mark Dolan providing the entertainment. Club President Tony Bush, welcomed the 600 guests and introduced them to five junior representatives of each sport played at Neston, which the lunch was raising funds for and highlighting The Shrimp Appeal, which assists young, local, talented girls and boys to be members and receive coaching for free. Michael Vaughan then did a Q&A, which of course covered the famous Ashes victory and post celebrations with Freddie Flintoff of 2005!

General Manager Craig Stubbs, Assistant Manager Kat Hussey and Bar Manager Nick Morrison served Laurent Perrier Champagne and Liverpool Gin to the guests during the three course meal served by Cheeky Chilli they all worked very hard on the day and into the night to make it such a memorable and successful event. The Main Sponsor, Intellectual Property experts Forrester’s and Associate Sponsors Mitchell Group – Lexus, Mazda and Skoda, Philip Bates, Chartered Accountants all had a great day with their guests.

The following night The Parkgate Proms, sponsored by Lees Solicitors, had 400 guests entertained by L’Orchestra Dell’ Arte, with conductor Edward Peak, Tenor Nicholas Hardy and the 32 piece orchestra playing us around the world with their music. The next day Neston hosted The Summer Ball, sponsored by Eden Luxury Travel and 350 guests danced the night away after a three course meal

by Cheeky Chilli, who over the weekend did 1100 covers from a small tent, one end of the bigger and lighter marquee. Visit www.nestoncricketclub.co.uk for more information.

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CREDIT: MELVYN HAMID ON A LEICA TL

THE BRITISH STYLE COLLECTIVE The sun was shining on Liverpool as it opened the doors to The British Style Collective. The event formerly known as The Clothes Show live was set across several of the cities finest venues, from the awesome live catwalk show in the Echo Arena to the vintage fashion fair on the Albert Dock - there was something for all fashionistas to enjoy. The exhibition centre saw some of the biggest brands in beauty, hair & fashion exhibiting all kinds of products from the latest range of Andrew Collinge hair products to the most glamourous Doll Beauty eyelashes... not forgetting the most fabulous cocktails from the chic set up at Bubbles bar. Moving into the city, St George’s hall hosted some serious high end fashion shows coupled with live Q & A’s from Liverpool’s finest celebrities, bloggers & stylists. The event was not to be missed & truly showcased Liverpool as the fashionable & glamorous city that it has become famous for. Be sure to get the date for next years event in your diary 13-15th July 2018.

Wirral Life Photography in association with Leica Store Manchester BRIEF 9: WIRRAL SUMMERTIME GOLD: JAN PEDDIE

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GOLD: SUSAN FREEMAN

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BRIEF 9: WIRRAL SUMMERTIME

SILVER: MIKE MCTIGUE

SILVER: MIKE READ

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BRONZE: ROY HAWKINS

BRONZE: PAUL ASHTON

BRONZE: SUSAN FREEMAN

THANKS TO ALL OF OUR ENTRANTS. NEXT MONTH - BRIEF 10: WIRRAL BEACH LIFE NEW SHOTS ONLY. DEADLINE: AUGUST 31. SEND TO editorial@wirrallife.com UP TO 3 SUBMISSIONS PER ENTRANT (NO PHONES). GOOD LUCK! wirrallife.com 101

THE RS6 HAS ONE MAJOR PROBLEM. FINDING SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS IT. The Audi RS6 is probably one of the world’s finest automotive engineering achievements on the road today. The V8 is sophisticated, not harsh. Complex, not complicated. And intoxicatingly outrageous.

So much is the personality of the RS6, that you’ll notice if it’s a little under the weather. But you don’t just get anyone to diagnose and deliver a prognosis. And there lies the problem. Not many understand your RS6 like we do. Because at Unit 20, we’ve been taking them apart and putting them back together for well over a decade. Which is why our customers – from far and wide – return to us with their RS6s for the finest tuning, servicing and repairs. Understandably.

If your RS6 is a little misunderstood, call Unit 20 now on 0151 336 6888, or visit unit20.com UNIT 20 | FIVEWAYS HOUSE | LIVERPOOL ROAD | CLAYHILL INDUSTRIAL ESTATE | NESTON | WIRRAL CH64 3RU | TELEPHONE 0151 336 6888.

CARS & COFFEE

By Norman Shum

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Shot by Mike McTigue on Leica TL

July’s Car and Coffee Liverpool meeting gave a warm welcome to the new Liverpool Lord Mayor Cllr Malcolm Kennedy and Mayoress Liliana Herescu.

Have you ever seen the Del Monte Orange juice advert in the 90’s where the man visits the village orange fields and samples an orange good enough for his drinks? It was similar pause and silence from the Liverpool Mayor and Mayoress whilst taking their first bite of Chung Ku’s steamed doughy sweet honey roast ‘char sui’ pork buns. The answer was YES! The Mayoress who said one just wasn’t enough.

The newcomers especially our distinguish guests saw how special and unique this car meeting was for the motor enthusiasts and non interested spectators.

This month the Liverpool C&CL crew collaborated with the Arts from the Baltic Social. A well respected artist and friend Ken Bullock (whom you will probably know Sign written ‘Camp in Furnace’ and the ‘Bluecoat’. Ken thought it was a great idea to introduction to Joe McCarty a great illustrator and a car lover created and just published a beautifully illustrated book called the ‘Alphabet of Curious Cars’. Joe kindly accepted our invitation to the meeting and book signing on the day, with generous sales and proceeds donated to the chosen charity. It features retro, classic cars ranging from A for Allegro to Z for Zagota which educates the new generate of children who loves cars. An excuse for the father or wives to buy for the children if not the big kid in the family!

The top trump card of July’s meeting was Paul Whittle’s super clean black 1959 Ford Pop with a 68 Ford Torino 5ltr V8 C4 3 speed auto transmission. The Ford Pop was know properly as the Ford Popular built in England between 1953 and 1962. When launched, it was the lowest priced car. Well, it’s certainly not the lowest priced car now after a huge increase in classic car prices. Parked behind the Pop was another top draw Classic, a 1962 racing Lotus inspired and outstanding build specification Ford Anglia. Running a genuine Lotus Twin Cam, 4 speed, twin 45 Webers on a lightweight body. Owned by Tom Owen’s father - John Owen. We can definitely tell you the whole family have petrol running in their veins!! Check out Tom’s Mk1 VW Jetta at the next coming meeting.

On the opposite end of the spectrum was the spectacular yellow Lamborghini Huracan Performante - just launched, only 2 in the North West. Thanks to David G from HR Owen for the great support every month. The Liverpool Lord Mayor’s favourite and most memorable car is a very elegant burgundy 1966 Mercedes 230 SL. The owners quote was “It’s a real granny Magnet”.

Please get in touch with carsandcoffeeliverpool@gmail.com for any help or any interesting projects you have coming up. wirrallife.com 105

FORD MUSTANG 2.3 ECOBOOST CABRIOLET

by Tony Yates

Towards the end of last year, I tested the V8 Mustang – a car that for me has it all. It’s a car that makes you smile, it’s a car that makes you happy and it’s a car that will pretty much make anyone who comes into contact with it go all giddy with excitement.

So, with the Mustang 2.3 EcoBoost now sitting on my drive, has Ford gone and ruined it by fitting it with smaller engine? Well, the answer is no, basically.

And the reason for this is simple; the Mustang is probably one of the most iconic cars of its time and no matter what’s under the bonnet - people will always love a Mustang. Of course if you try this with the likes of the Ford Focus RS for instance, then you might as well drive it into the nearest river.

Power and Efficiency: My test car was powered by a 2.3-litre engine with direct injection and twin-scroll turbocharger. Max power comes in at 317PS with the addition of 432Nm of torque. Max speed is also around 145mph and a 0-62 time of around 5.8sec (manual gearbox). Of course I know we all want a V8 Mustang in our lives – but there are some of us that want the economy side too. So in keeping with that, Ford went that one step further and installed the EcoBoost engine which has been specially tuned to combine the performance you would expect from a Mustang, but with better fuel economy to keep all those green people happy. Plus, as much as I love a V8 I’m not against the 2.3 – because I also want a car to be usable without the need to visit the petrol station every time I step on the ‘loud pedal’ for more than five seconds.

On the Road: As with the V8 I tested last year – the 2.3 EcoBoost is still a joy to drive no matter where you are going or on what road surface you are driving it on - also, as the Mustang is rear wheel drive, you can dial in the power a little softer with the 2.3 litre engine, which for me makes it that little bit more tamer to drive than the V8 version (only just though) Into the corners it felt planted and not cumbersome at all, and if you feed in the power 106 wirrallife.com

at the right time and into the right corner - you will come out the other end just like the guy in his Nissan Micra – perfectly safe and sound. Don’t forget the Mustang now has ‘normal’ fully independent suspension which makes the car more agile. If you also factor in the limited slip differential then you can be assured of something stable and thrilling to drive – the only analogy I can come up when explaining the Mustang’s thrilling drive is; it’s like waking up one morning to find out that your wife has been replaced with Kendall Jenner who also just happens to be sporting a very misguided lace thong. Yep - It really is that good.

Design and Technology : Owning a Mustang is about as exciting as it gets because it’s all about presence on the road – that is something you just can’t ignore. Even if you do opt for the 2.3 EcoBoost version - people will still stare, while many will just point and say ‘wow! It’s a Mustang! ’ Inside you will find a 3.8 colour touchscreen with a 9-speaker DAB radio, selectable driving modes, ESC with three settings, 4-piston front callipers, auto headlamps, and rain sensing wipers, Ford keyfree system, 6-way power adjustable front seats plus a whole host of additional extras.

To sum up: The Mustang is epic in any form.

Price: (from) £38,745 (cabriolet version + 6-speed auto) – not including fitted options. tony@yatesmedia.co.uk

It’s like waking up and finding out that your wife has been replaced with Kendall Jenner

wirrallife.com 107

Lamborghini @ Goodwood FOS

by David Gidman

It’s that time of the year again when all serious petrol heads make the pilgrimage to the south coast of England for the Goodwood FOS. This year was going to be an extraordinarily special year for me as I had been given the enviable task of doing the 550 mile round trip in the new Lamborghini Huracan LP640 Performante. Gulp!

I truly could not believe that little old me had just been given the keys to Lamborghini Manchester’s £230,000 Huracan Performante demonstrator with 40 miles on the clock!

Setting off at 4pm on the Friday, I envisaged a frustrating sluggish rush hour drive to Goodwood, but not when you are lucky enough to be driving such an imposing beast. As soon as I slid into the carbon fibre race seats and pressed the start button - I knew this was going to be one of the most memorable journeys of my entire life.

I took a deep breath, composed myself and launched. By the time I had done the 1.5 miles to the M60, I had the biggest smile on my face which lasted all weekend giving me jaw ache. I joined the M60 and it was instantly like I had flashing blue lights on the front of the Lambo – literally all of the cars in front of me just pulled out of the way to let me past and then pulled back in with camera phones in hand to take snaps of their first glimpse of the Nurburgring lap record holder. This was the script for most of the journey to Goodwood. I lost count of the amount of thumbs up I received on the journey.

108 wirrallife.com

By the time I got off the A3, I was deeply in love with the Performante.

I had never driven any car with the level of grip (that is developed by Lamborghini’s new active aerodynamics ALA). You can actually feel the extra downforce - 750% more than the standard Huracan, giving you so much confidence that you feel almost invincible. The 20 mile cross country drive to the 10-bedroom mansion in Petworth, which we’d rented for the weekend was epic. The Performante just ate up and spat out every single car it came up behind.

I reached Petworth House at exactly 8:30pm and Sean from HR Owen London had heard me coming and came out to watch me reverse down the side of the house. He started shouting for me to stop and come and look at the rear of the car. My first thought was oh no what have I done?

I rushed to the rear of the car and my chin hit the floor with astonishment.

The catalytic converters were glowing red hot like two after burners on a fighter jet. Amazing. I parked it alongside the other 2 Huracan Performante Demonstrator’s and 2 Aventador S Demonstrators. Seeing £1.3million of the most sought after Lamborghini’s parked together was truly a sight to behold, I was slapping myself to make sure I was actually awake.

Saturday morning at 7:30am was time for the HR Owen Lamborghini convoy to set off to Goodwood. The yellow Aventador S fronted the pack, then the matt grey Performante, followed by me in a yellow Performante, then the green Performante and London’s white Aventador S bringing up the rear. Our intention was to cause a massive impact at Goodwood and boy did we get a reaction. On the drive to there I was mesmerised by the glowing red afterburners on the matt grey car in front, then the flames firing out of the yellow Aventador S. Nasa stuff!

My jaw hit the deck.

The catalytic converters were glowing red hot like two after burners on a fighter jet.

Wooo!

It was almost like we had a police escort - as at every junction cars just stopped to allow us to fly through and keep the convoy intact. When we arrived at Goodwood, the supercar spotters couldn’t believe their eyes. We could hear the screams from everyone “Lamborghini” then “OMG there’s 5 of them” then “there are 3 Performante’s”. Everyone was clamouring to get photographs. We duly obliged the crowds by letting them hear what 5 screaming Lamborghini’s sounded like. We parked them in a line and the crowds flocked to get a picture of the truly epic vision of Lambo Royalty.

We all walked away with big beaming smiles knowing that we had just made some peoples Goodwood the best ever, before they had even got in.

I was tagged into a video from the previous day of the Aventador S doing donut’s at the turn round before the start. Simone informed me that this was him and that we would be doing the same. Simone broke out the donuts, enveloping us in cloud of burning rubber. It came to our turn and we were off up the hill. When we approached the house, Simone decided to try and do another doughnut but due the heat in the tyres the Aventador S just gripped and it was a bit of a non-event. Then we saw the Green Performante hurtling towards us. - Simone was completely unfazed flicked us out of the way and just screamed up the rest of the hill. Check out my Instagram account for the in-car footage @davidgidman

We made our way to the hospitality unit, Lamborghini never fail to put on a really good spread, which is befitting such a brand. They were doing customer passenger rides up the hill in the Centenario, Performante and Aventador S. I had managed to secure one of my clients a ride in the Performante.

I knew our presence was going to cause a stir, but I didn’t realise till I got back to the car how big a commotion our line-up was causing in the supercar parking area. The crowds were as big as the supercar paddock.

I cut through the crowds and slid into that carbon fibre seat, pressed the start button and launched. Needless to say, the journey home was much the same as the journey down - with the odd Golf R and AMG A45 trying to sprove how rapid they were. Alas, a 2 second touch of my pedal and they soon realised that we were not just in a different league, but a different solar system!

I took him up to the Martini enclosure to register and was amazed to find a collection of Group B Lancia rally cars. Affectionally known as the killer B’s. Then we bumped into Jody Kidd and Sir Jackie Stewart OBE. We made our way to the Supercar paddock and en route - we stumbled across the Cartier lawn with a Ferrari 250 GTO just sat there in all its glory next to a fiat 500. Arriving at the supercar paddock we were greeted by Simone Campedelli, one of the 3 Italian drivers for Lamborghini. After a short briefing, I was then informed that there was a free space in the Aventador S and I was asked if I would like to take the place. I had to rush back to the Martini Enclosure to Register and then back to the supercar paddock for a once in a life time opportunity. Simone was the driver and as we were chatting, awaiting our turn sat staring at the rear of the Centenario.

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

wirrallife.com 109

Porsche recommends

The new Panamera.

Courage changes everything.

Discover more at porsche.co.uk/panamera

Porsche Centre Chester Cheshire Oaks Cheshire CH65 9LF 0845 8454 911 info@porschechester.co.uk www.porschechester.co.uk

Official fuel economy figures for the Panamera 4S in l/100km (mpg): urban 10.2 – 10.1 (27.7 – 28.0), extra urban 6.8 – 6.7 (41.5 – 42.2), combined 8.2 – 8.1 (34.4 – 34.9). CO2 emissions: 186 – 184 g/km. The mpg and CO2 figures quoted are sourced from official EU‑regulated tests, are provided for comparability purposes and may not reflect your actual driving experience.

and

TM

WIRRAL

LIFE

DIRECTORY

BATH ROO M S Bathrooms and Wetrooms offer a complete one stop design through to installation service for bathrooms, wetrooms, en suite rooms and cloakrooms. We serve customers from Wirral, Liverpool and the Merseyside area.

• • •

B EAU T Y

Offering a wide range of non surgical aesthetic treatments, Anti-wrinkle injections and Dermal fillers, body contouring (with dietary and lifestyle advice), Fotona laser treatments (used for a wide range of medical applications) and a wide range of skin care products for all skin types, and those with specific medical problems such as acne and rosacea.

• • •

BUS INESS

0151 608 8011 6 - 8 Prenton Road West, Prenton, Wirral, CH42 9PN www.bathroomsandwetrooms.co.uk

0151 625 8080 158-160 Banks Road, West Kirby, Wirral CH48 0RH www.sdsrejuvenate.co.uk

Whitfield Business provides a holistic approach to support start ups & small businesses through their growth journey, helping business owners to concentrate on their core service and avoid time consuming management distractions such as design, social media and marketing.

It really is in their interest to help you grow.

• • •

0151 342 6365 184-200 Pensby Rd, Heswall, CH60 7RJ www.whitfieldbusinesshub.co.uk

Wirral Chamber of Commerce works to develop and promote Wirral as a vibrant and attractive environment in which businesses can thrive, ensuring it is seen as an area recognised for investment, job creation and economic prosperity.

• • •

B UTC HERS

We are a long established family Butcher & Delicatessen trading for nearly 40 years. Our butchers counter stocks the best quality meat, locally sourced from North Wales.

And our Delicatessen stocks an array of home made and hand picked product from home and abroad. We also have a hot counter serving fresh and delicious hot meals & sandwiches.

• • •

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0151 650 6940 Egerton House, 2 Tower Road, Birkenhead CH41 1FN www.wirralchamber.co.uk

0151 334 2002 5-7 Allport Lane, Bromborough, Wirral CH62 7HH www.muffsonline.co.uk

ADVERTISE HERE F R O M O N LY £ 1 2 5

TM

C AR REPA I RS With over 20 years in the motor trade and experience on almost every type of vehicle from high performance road cars, to HGV’s, to armoured vehicles, you can rest assured that we will look after your pride and joy.

• • •

Kenmann motors

0151 336 6888 5 Ways House (Off Liverpool Road) Neston CH64 3RU www.unit20.com

Kenmann Motors are a well established garage based in Birkenhead. We have the technology, and the knowledge to diagnose and repair all vehicles.

• • •

0151 647 4303 Unit 1, Holborn Square, Wirral, CH41 9HQ Find us on Facebook - Kenmann Motors

• diagnostics • servicing • repairs • m.o.t.

WWW.kenmannmotors.com • O151 647 43O3 CONS E RVATORY

Enjoy a warm, cosy conservatory in the winter, and a cool, glare-free room in the summer. The Leka roof will transform your existing conservatory into a space that you can use all year round. The Leka system is made-tomeasure and can be installed including plastering and a deep clean in only 2-4 days.

• • •

D ENT I ST RY

Wallasey Orthodontics provides a modern, Consultant led orthodontic service to the Wirral, Cheshire and Merseyside. We are committed to giving our patients the best possible treatment, care and outcome for the perfect smile, in a comfortable and friendly environment.

• • •

ESTAT E AG E N TS

0151 327 8095 sales@pureltd.co.uk www.pureltd.uk

0151 630 6345 154 Belvidere Rd, Wallasey CH45 4PT www.wallaseyorthodontics.co.uk

Built on sophistication and personal attention, Constables Estate Agents is renowned for its strong high street presence and expert local knowledge. We offer a range of desirable properties across Wirral and the North West.

We go the extra mile to ensure that buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants receive excellent customer service.

• • •

0151 353 1333 21 High St, Neston CH64 9TZ www.constablesestateagents.co.uk

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WIRRAL

LIFE

DIRECTORY

HAIR D RE SSE RS

Andrew Collinge Hairdressing is a modern creative force, renowned for contemporary, desirable and wearable hairstyles. Exceptional hairdressing salons, hair products and hairdressing training has ensured this award winning hairdressing salon group is firmly established as one of the most influential hairdressing companies in the UK. • • •

KITCH E N S

Established over 40 years ago, Panorama Kitchens continues to supply high quality kitchens to retail and trade customers throughout the North West. From the initial consultation and design through to manufacture and installation, Panorama Kitchens guarantees a service that is second to none.

• • •

R ESTAURA N TS

0151 342 1002 127 Telegraph Road, Heswall CH60 0AF www.andrewcollinge.com

0151 609 0455 291 Woodchurch Road, Prenton, Wirral CH42 9LE www.panoramakitchens.co.uk

The Manor Restaurant is set within a beautiful landscaped courtyard, located in the heart of Greasby Village.

Innovation and tradition come together to create stunning simplicity. Our inspiration is drawn from established classic British recipes. A warm welcome awaits.

• • •

0151 677 7034 91 Greasby Rd, Greasby, Wirral CH49 3NF www.themanorwirral.com

Our passion lies in finding quality fresh ingredients and preparing, cooking and presenting them in a modern but unpretentious way. Our menus have a spine of classic British dishes complemented by more exotic influences from other parts of the world.

• • •

WOOD BURN I N G STOV E S

Hot Stuff Stoves, Hoylake sells stoves (log burners), range cookers and fire surrounds. We are a registered Esse centre, We are Hetas registered and offer a fitting service for all aspects of stove installation including chimney work, cowls and flue liners. The showroom offers a wide variety of companion sets, log baskets, coal buckets, fuel, outdoor pizza ovens, firepits and chimneas.

• • •

114 wirrallife.com

0151 353 2920 Liverpool Rd, Thornton Hough, Wirral, CH64 7TL www.brunningandprice.co.uk/redfox/

0151 632 1610 92 Market Street, Hoylake www.hotstuffstoves.com

WRAITH I N S PI R ED BY M U S I C

Step inside the ultimate venue: Wraith Inspired By Music.

A sumptuous interior stirs emotions while audio superiority from precision engineered acoustics, tuned to perfection, moves you. Close your eyes and be there; as if it is just you and the artist for a private performance. Available to order in dealerships now.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Manchester Road Knutsford Cheshire WA16 0ST Tel: 01565 220 313 www.rolls-roycemotorcars-manchester.co.uk Official fuel economy figures for the Rolls-Royce Wraith: Urban 13.3mpg (21.2l/100km). Extra Urban 28.8mpg (9.8l/100km).

Combined 20.2mpg (14.0l/100km). CO2 emissions 327g/km. Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions. Š Copyright Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited 2017. The Rolls-Royce name and logo are registered trademarks.

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