Wirral Life October 2017

WIRRAL LIFE

TM

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

MATTHEW ASHTON LEGO® DESIGN IMPRESARIO PROPERTY • MOTORS • FASHION & BEAUTY • FOOD & DRINK

The ultimate relaxing music mix

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WIRRAL LIFE

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EDITORS:

WIRRAL’S No.1 FREE PREMIUM LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Welcome to Wirral Life Magazine.

This month, we have an exclusive interview with our cover star Matthew Ashton, originally from Upton and now living in Denmark as the Vice President of Design at LEGO®- Co-Executive producer of The LEGO® Movie and the LEGO® Batman Movie (which combined have grossed over a billion dollars). Last month, he was Head Judge on Channel 4’s LEGO® Masters.

If you’re looking for some inspiration on where to eat out, take a look at our restaurant reviews - this month, we tried No.1 Mostyn Square in Parkgate and Carl Housbey, our Gastro Grazer has been further afield to Hispi in Didsbury. We’ve experienced some unique wine tasting evenings and a launch of a very exciting new restaurant in West Kirby. We would also like to welcome on board award winning Wirral Chef Paul Askew - owner of the renowned Art School Restaurant, who will be writing an exclusive monthly column for our readers.

It’s been a very busy month for the team as we’ve been out and about at events such as the Wirral Business Awards, The Mayor’s Ball, Prince William’s Royal Visit, Peter Collinge’s 90th Birthday and many more - check out our Society Pages to see if you’ve been snapped by Wirral Life.

Nicky Rigby-Smith

Si Hall

FEATURE WRITERS:

Andrew Collinge: Hair Lynne Hague: Lifestyle David Green: Whisky Carl Housbey: Food John & Steve Muff: Food Andrew Wood: History Norman Shum: Cars and Coffee Richard Sanderson: Veterinary Richard Gibson: Dentistry Katie Hayes: Beauty Annabel Birtles: Beauty Paul Askew: Food

All imagery shot on Leica cameras

OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER:

Enjoy Wirral Life!

Si Hall & Nicky Rigby-Smith

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

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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PROPERTY 48. Upton Pines 51. Editor’s Choice Properties 58. Interior Inspiration

SOCIETY 84. Wirral Business Awards 87. The Tapas Kitchen Launch 88. Tweedmill Fashion Show AW17 90. Thornton Hall Wine Tasting 92. Peter Collinge 90th Birthday 93. People Republic China 94. The Royal Visit 96. Cash for Kids 98. The Mayor’s Ball 100. Hillsborough 96 receive Freedom of Wirral

FASHION & BEAUTY 60. Barbour 66. Autumn Beauty

HISTORY, ARTS & CULTURE 72. The Birth of a Legend 102. Leica Photo Competition

TRAVEL 73. Ski in Japan

MOTOR 108. Cars and Coffee 110. OCD Porsche Open Evening 112. Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.2

INTERVIEWS 20. Matthew Ashton FOOD & DRINK 34. The Butchers Cut 42. No.1 Mostyn Square 44. Gastro Grazer

BUSINESS 76. Wirral Chamber of Commerce

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wirrallife.com 5

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IN BRIEF STEVE TILSTON AND JEZ LOWE IN CONCERT IN WEST KIRBY

Award-winning UK singer-songwriters, Steve Tilston & Jez Lowe, have found inspiration in working together and are celebrating their debut CD release ‘The Janus Game’ with a small tour which touches down for one night only in Wirral on the evening of Friday 10th November at the West Kirby Arts Centre.

When the acoustic folk musicians started working together whilst on tour in the USA a few years ago, Steve and Jez realised they could be onto something special. Some time passed before the two could reunite again, but the spark was lit and plans were afoot! Then in 2015 Tilston & Lowe embarked on their debut UK tour, sharing the stage and swapping songs.

Tilston and Lowe’s concerts are filled with songs and music, chat and banter and intimate insights into their approach to their craft. Head to head, neck and neck (guitar necks, that is!) and audiences can listen in as they rekindle the spontaneity of their late-night livingroom song swaps.

For tickets, visit www.westkirbyartscentre.org.uk

OXTON ART FAIR Now in its 14th year, the Oxton Art Fair will return to the Williamson Art Gallery on 25 November 2017 for its biggest event yet.

This year, 24 professional and semi-professional artists will showcase their work across four rooms of the Williamson Art Gallery in Oxton, Wirral. Established members, new members and annual guests will present a diverse mix of interesting and innovative art with something to suit every taste and pocket.

For more information, visit: www.oxtonartfair.co.uk.

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CLARE BALDING ENTHRALS LOCAL PUPILS ON HER VISIT TO THE WIRRAL

Clare Balding, acclaimed TV presenter and writer, visited Birkenhead School on 2nd October to talk to children about her new book, ‘The Racehorse Who Disappeared’.

Clare delivered an inspirational talk to children from years 4 to 8, along with children from other local primary schools. In the talk she shared tales from her childhood and inspirational stories from the Olympians and Paralympians she has worked with during her remarkable career.

Clare also spoke about important and valuable messages for the children and encouraged them to think of their own ideas for a story.

She spoke of how important it was to be yourself and to follow your dreams, not letting others stand in your way. There was plenty of audience participation, with pupils from the invited schools standing on stage sharing their own story ideas.

The talk was a huge success and Clare was met with many questions at the end, relating to her own experiences, as well as questions asking for tips and advice on how to write your own bestseller. Clare also signed copies of her book for children to take home and have as a memory from the day.

Harry Fitzherbert, Head of The Prep at Birkenhead School, commented, “We were absolutely delighted to welcome Clare to the School. The children were enthralled and they left Clare’s talk inspired by what she had to say, with messages that will hopefully stay with them for life.”

The event was organised in conjunction with Linghams Booksellers in Heswall and Clare is one of a number of high-profile speakers who have visited the School this year, these have included former England Cricket Captain, David Gower, OBE and TV presenter and actor, Sir Tony Robinson.

On Tuesday 21st November, Sir Tony, is making a return visit to the School, and tickets are available for the public event through Linghams by calling 0151 342 7290.

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LIGHTS SHINE BRIGHT IN MEMORY OF DAD

CALLING ALL THE HEROES! Wirral Council is calling for your nominations for the Wirral Award 2017!

Recipients will be treated to a civic reception at Wallasey Town Hall, and join a small but distinguished band of people who have been recognised with this civic honour - which rewards going the extra mile for others. They are looking for individuals or organisations living or working in Wirral who have made an outstanding achievement over the previous 12 months, or have given distinguished service to the borough (over a period of 20 years or more, less in exceptional circumstances). Mayor of Wirral, Cllr Ann McLachlan, will present the awards. She said: ‘Our award holders are from various fields of public life and have included volunteers, community workers and people from the world of sport and the arts. If you’ve ever heard yourself thinking that someone you know deserved an award for the good works they do, now is the time to nominate them.’ You have until December 8, 2017, to make your nomination at: www.wirral.gov.uk/awards.

Ten thousand beautiful lights will be switched on in memory of loved ones at Wirral Hospice St John’s this December. This special event is an opportunity for our local community to come together to sponsor a light and remember their loved ones.

The switch-on will take place in the Hospice gardens on Sunday 3rd December from 4.30pm. The names of those remembered will feature in the books of honour on display in the hospice chapel. Each name sponsored will receive a Light up a Life card and there is an opportunity to buy a Light up a Life star as a keepsake tree decoration. This year the lights will be switched on by eight-year-old Sam Bryson whose dad died at Wirral Hospice St John’s in 2015. Sam was six and his sister Florence was just two when their dad Roger died from bowel cancer aged 48. The children spent a lot of time visiting their dad at the hospice and were always made to feel welcome and cared for; their father was an in-patient for almost three months. Periods of stability meant he was able to live at the family home in Hoylake for a few weeks at a time. Roger was a news journalist who worked for the BBC in Liverpool, and was a former news editor of The Liverpool Daily Post. Roger was hospitalised in May 2013 with essential thrombocythemia – a blood disorder that caused a series of blood clots, resulting in complications and emergency bowel surgery. He returned to work nearly 18 months later, but developed further problems and was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer in April 2015. He moved to Wirral Hospice St John’s days later. The family have since moved from Wirral to Julia’s hometown in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, but visit Hoylake often. Roger’s family – his mum was 91 this year and lives in Moreton with his sister Jehane, and his brother Pete and sister-inlaw Glenys live in Irby. Julia Bryson writes a blog called Rainbeaubelle (rainbeaubelle.com) and documents their journey online. Writing about her husband’s cancer diagnosis, his move to the hospice and eventually his death helped her to get through the experience and connect with others in a similar position. It has also served to give people an insight into life at a hospice and how the hospice can benefit not only the patient but also the whole family. Last year’s campaign helped to raise almost £90,000 towards running costs and patient care. To sponsor a light, call 0151 343 0778 or visit www.wirralhospice.org

SHAFTESBURY YOUTH CLUB CREATE WALL MURAL

Shaftesbury Youth Club, in collaboration with The Wilfred Owen Story, has created a wall mural within the grounds of the Shaftesbury’s Memorial Garden, which depicts a WW1 battlefield scene and is inspired by lines from Wilfred Owen’s poem ‘The Next War’.

The mural completes the works to commemorate the young people who were members of the youth club, and who gave their lives in the “Great War”, many of whom are featured in the club’s iconic commemorative ‘Golden Book’. The mural was painted by Rebecca Grindley, who is the resident artist with the Wilfred Owen Story, based on Argyle Street, Birkenhead. Rebecca, who studied at Goldsmiths Art College in London, says, “It has been an honour to contribute to the club’s memorial garden. Wilfred lived just a short distance away and would have known the field. It seemed fitting to illustrate his poem, as Owen was aghast at the senseless loss of youth in the war.

The poem I chose was one of only 5 published while Wilfred was alive, and was actually written in July 1917, so it is exactly 100 years since he proclaimed ‘Death was never an enemy of ours!.” Members of the public can visit the Garden by arrangement, please ring the club on 0151 608 7165. wirrallife.com 9

IN BRIEF 110 YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS FOR AVALON SCHOOL

WIRRAL CARE HOME FIRES UP THE BBQ TO BRING SUMMER TO A CLOSE

Avalon School in West Kirby has reached a significant milestone as the school celebrates 110 years as an academic establishment.

Pupils, parents and staff gathered for a special afternoon event with esteemed guests, the Deputy Lieutenant of Merseyside Colonel Martin GC Amlot OBE OStJ DL and his wife in attendance. Other special guests included former headteachers, Governors and people connected to the school, past and present. The children sang a number of songs from bygone days and also a new school song to tie in with the school’s motto, ‘reaching further, together.”

Whilst at the school, the Deputy Lieutenant of Merseyside helped children bury a time capsule full of items from 2017, celebrating 110 years of Avalon, containing children’s poems and stories. He also unveiled a mosaic which has been created by every current child and staff member and is now placed near the main entrance of the school for everyone to enjoy. Guests enjoyed afternoon tea and 110 Birthday cake whilst reminiscing and sharing stories about Avalon and it’s past. The school first opened its doors to its first 8 pupils in 1907 from a detached home in Townfield Road, West Kirby. As numbers increased, the school moved to Grosvenor Road in 1925 and it was here that the school acquired the name ‘Avalon’. Further expansion of pupil numbers saw the school move into its current premises on Caldy Road in 1931. The school became fully co-educational in 1991 under the direction of headmaster at the time, Christopher Kirch.

Mrs Joanna Callaway, Headteacher at Avalon School said, “This is a very special year for the school. Avalon has seen many progressive changes over the years, yet we are proud to be a school which has maintained a strong sense of tradition. Underpinning everything that we do is an understanding and respect for others, a sense of responsibility, the importance of self-belief, and a willingness to support each other. We have further events planned with the children as we continue to celebrate our 110th year as a school which provides an excellent foundation for its pupils.”

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Residents, relatives and staff from a Heswall care home bid summer a fond farewell with a special BBQ bash to remember last week.

The Hazelwell, a residential, nursing, palliative and respite care home situated in Oldfield Road, decided to make the most of the warm weather with a get-together in its gardens. Summer officially came to an end on Thursday, August 31 according to meteorologists with autumn now upon us.

Steve Devenport, experienced head chef at The Hazelwell, cooked up some delicious locally sourced produce including burgers, sausages and chicken accompanied by some delightful summer salads.

Steve, who has been at the care home since it opened last July, was keen to ensure none of the residents missed out and catered for all of their nutritional and dietary requirements.

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

The home 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.

Liza Millington, care home manager at The Hazelwell, said: “The BBQ was a great success with Steve’s fabulous food a big hit! It was a lovely day and fantastic way to say goodbye to summer and hello to Autumn!”

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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Situated in the heart of Heswall in the Wirral, we offer residential, nursing, palliative and respite care tailored to your requirements in a comfortable home-from-home environment.

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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IN BRIEF VINTAGE PRINTS AND COSTUMES AT THE LADY LEVER ART GALLERY

The elegance and glamour of the 1950s is captured in a brand new exhibition at the Lady Lever Art Gallery.

Model Image: fashion and photos from the 1950s, is open from 20 October 2017 – 15 April 2018 and explores the life of one of the top British models of the era, Liverpool-born June Duncan (1924-2014).

June’s modelling career was an exhilarating whirl of fashion shoots, front covers and haute couture. The exhibition encapsulates June’s rise from child actor to cover girl through stunning prints of her by some of the most high-profile photographers of the decade, including John French, Eugene Vernier, Hans Wild and Noel Mayne.

The exhibition also features effortlessly stylish 1950s evening dresses and accessories from National Museums Liverpool’s collection.

Pauline Rushton, Senior Curator, said: “June was born in the Liverpool suburb of Mossley Hill in 1924 and went on to appear as a model in the most iconic fashion magazines, including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair and Tatler.

It has been a privilege to find out about June’s stellar rise from her sister Barbara, who has so kindly shared June’s photographs and memoirs with us. We’re excited to show the beautifully evocative photographs that really capture the refined grace of the decade.

From her time as a child actor on stage at Liverpool’s Empire and Playhouse theatres, to wartime service in the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRENS), to her days in Paris appearing in French Vogue and modelling for haute couture houses including Christian Dior, June summed up the experience perfectly herself. Looking back she wrote, ‘Sometimes I look at myself in the mirror and wonder if I dreamed those heady days at the peak of my career in the glamour and fashion world of the 1950s.”

Visit www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/modelimage for more information.

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WIRRAL COMMUNITY NARROWBOAT TRUST RECEIVES QUEENS AWARD

Wirral Community Narrowboat Trust have been awarded the Queen’s Award For Voluntary Service, considered to be the MBE of volunteering.

Two representatives of the Trust were invited to a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in recognition of the achievement. Her Majesty’s representative, Dame Lorna Muirhead, DCVO DBE, Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside, who was accompanied by the High Sheriff of Merseyside, Stephen Burrows DL, also His Honour John H Roberts, DL. presented the award to the volunteers at a special ceremony attended by two local Mayors and Trust members. The Queen’s Award For Voluntary Service recognises all of the hard work and time given by members and builds upon the Trust’s previous achievements.

In 2014, Wirral Community Narrowboat Trust was the national winner of the Canal and River Trust’s ‘Living Waterways Award’ for community and volunteering. Previously in 2012, one of its boats was chosen to carry the Paralympic Flame into and later from the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port.

Wirral Community Narrowboat Trust (WCNT) was first founded in 1984 as the Wirral Narrowboat Association and is an all-volunteer registered charity which is now in its 33rd year. It aims to seek to improve the quality of life for people who by virtue of age, infirmity, physical disability, mental disorder or social factors are disadvantaged or deprived. To make provision for the recreational, educational and social needs of the said people. To provide an experience outside of the normal environment; which is therapeutic and brings respite to Carers.

They also aim to deliver a Narrowboat service to a professional standard, subscribing to a national Code of Conduct for community boats. All volunteers are trained to NCBA requirements. Trips are provided throughout the year on fully wheelchair friendly adapted narrowboats.

Its two Narrowboats have been entirely funded by the Trust, without any grant or Lottery funding and built to our own specific requirements to provide amenities suitable for the needs of disabled users with full wheelchair access throughout each boat.

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THE FORSHAW GROUP COMMUNITY REFURBISHMENT DAY AT SOUTHPORT RFC Liverpool based construction company, The Forshaw Group, got stuck into the scrum to support Southport RFC with an ambitious community refurbishment day.

In this inspiring project, joint Managing Director of The Forshaw Group, Jay Calvert co-ordinated several overlapping projects that would accelerate the club’s refurbishment programme planned over the next five years to be completed over a few days.

The initial works included the provision of land drainage to the south end of the main pitch to alleviate the recent water logging and flooding issues experienced. The provision of fencing and a tarmac hardstanding to the equipment storage area created a more organised space to access and store the club’s wealth of sporting inventory.

A fifty-strong task force was made up from the management staff and tradesman from The Forshaw Group, apprentices from their academy, volunteers from the club players and officials, and junior members.

With military precision and timing, the Waterloo Road ground was soon awash with dust sheets, scaffolding and all manner of work benches and power tools. A fifty-meter access pathway was laid to the southern side line to create additional mud free spectator space. A lean-to structure with timber racking was constructed in the new storage area to provide easy access and weather protection for the club’s training equipment.

Three teams of decorators set about freshening up the internal and external spaces of the main club buildings and perimeter railings around the pitch.

Three joinery teams stripped back the rotten benching and terraced platforms to the main stand, then refurbished them in marine plywood and all new solid wood benches, in a conveyor belt of stripping, renewing and painting activity. Torrential rain threatened the project completion many times throughout the day, but with Jay’s innovative thinking and re-planning and some well-timed bacon butty breaks, all works were completed on time with the sun shining ready for the 3pm first team kick off.

Jay said, ‘It was great to be involved in such a project knowing the difference it would make to the club and the local community. My own boy’s use these facilities each week and really enjoy the game of Rugby. I am proud of the team spirit and camaraderie of The Forshaw Group, our apprentice academy and all the club members that pulled together to make it happen. Both Liam Hanlon and I, are passionate about our corporate and social responsibilities for the community, youth development and sport.”

Jay and Liam would like to thank all those who turned out to help with the project and Southport Rugby Club for their hospitality throughout the day, with pots of tea, pie dinner’s and in true Rugby fellowship, the copious amounts of ale upon completion!

Club president Graham Ellis raised a glass to efforts of the day saying “A huge thank you to Jay and the Forshaw Group for the unbelievable amount of work completed over the past few days.

They are all a cracking bunch of lads and the club is extremely grateful for all they have achieved.”

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WIRRAL DENTISTS’ COMPETE IN OBSTACLE COURSE RACING - AND ALL FOR A GOOD CAUSE! Wirral Dentist, Richard Gibson, shares his story about his passion for Obstacle Course Racing and how him and his wife, Rachel, are competing in the World Championships to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy UK. Weekends used to be very different! Prior to 2012, I’d often be up or down the motorway to play hockey and doing our best to catch up with friends spread throughout the country.

My eldest was born in 2011 and then his little brother arrived in 2013 – the same year I was diagnosed with an autoinflammatory condition which knocked me for six.

My diagnosis took a bit of working through and recovery rendered me essentially incapable of doing my normal sporting activities. In 2015, the boys were growing and I was feeling a bit more like myself but couldn’t work out how to get back to losing every Saturday to sport at the expense of seeing my wife and kids.

It was one day in the summer that my wife, Rachel, came home and said: “We should do a Spartan Race!” “A what?” I replied.

She went on to explain that it was new type of competitive obstacle course race. Her friend had competed the previous year in Manchester and the next round was July. “Perfect!” I said – it’s always good to have something to train towards.

Rachel started training with her friend and I started getting back to some running and functional training. September came around and with a certain amount of trepidation, we pitched up at 8am on a Saturday morning in Manchester for the race.

Now going in, they don’t tell you how far it is or what obstacles you face along the way. Experience now suggests that anything is fair game but you should likely expects walls to climb, nets to scale or crawl under, ropes to swing on, spears to throw and oh did I mention hills! Yes they love hills! 40 minutes later I dragged myself across the line but with a smile on my face. The experience had me hooked and the support and camaraderie on the course was fantastic. To top it off, Rachel turned out to be pretty good and in her first race had placed in 3rd and somehow 14 wirrallife.com

had qualified for the Spartan World Championships in Lake Tahoe (California). I was bowled over and very proud. We went to compete in America but come 2017 both set ourselves the goal of qualifying for the OCR (Obstacle Course Racing) World Championships. Rachel unsurprisingly qualified first and in our last race of the season, I was ranked high enough to get my invitation! But life at times can be an emotional rollercoaster.

The same weekend we found out about the race, we also heard from our friends, Nick & Kirsty, in Scotland that both their little boys Owen, 3, and George, 9 months, had been diagnosed with an aggressive type of muscular dystrophy. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a severe form with the main symptoms of muscle weakness beginning around the age of 4 in boys and worsening quickly. Most are unable to walk by the age of 12 and commonly require ventilation to assist the weakened muscles with breathing. NO cure for muscular dystrophy is known and the average life expectancy is 26, however with excellent care can be into the 30s and 40s. This hit us particularly hard with two boys of our own and really put into perspective how insignificant our achievement was. The timing, however, made drawing a connection between the two situations easy. It gave us increased motivation to not only compete but try and do everything we could to raise not only the profile of this disorder but hopefully funds to help support those little boys, their parents and other people with Duchenne. Nick & Kirsty have set up Project Go – a charity geared towards raising awareness and vital funds to support the work of Muscular Dystrophy UK and the Duchenne Research Breakthrough Fund.

The World Championships were held in Canada’s Blue Mountains.

Your support can make a real difference. Please visit our just giving page to donate what you can: https://www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/Rachel-Gibson22

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WIRRAL TEACHER, STEVE GUINNESS ON HIS CHANNEL 4 LEGOMASTERS WIN As the popular series of LEGO Masters came to an end last month, Birkenhead School was celebrating as their Head of Design and Technology, Steve Guinness, picked up the trophy, alongside his build partner, Nate Diaz.

The Channel 4 show was touted as the LEGO version of The Great British Bake Off, with contestants tackling a different topic every week, creating animals, food, furniture, and even people, out of LEGO. In each episode, Steve and Nate, excelled in demonstrating their creativity and versatility, creating a Chinese banquet out of bricks in the first episode, a pirate-themed fun fair for episode two and in episode three, a whole host of animals, including a lemur, crocodile and a chameleon for the nature theme. In the final, the contestants were given three hours to build a scenario from a child’s story in the ‘Pure Imagination’ task and 10 days for their ‘Showstopper’ build which saw Steve and Nate creating a scene of an office-worker whose ‘inner-child’ is unleashed and featured life-sized human models, furniture, toys and even a functioning typewriter all made out of LEGO pieces. Steve says “It has been a dream come true being a part of the competition, being surrounded by likeminded designers and working under the guidance of the Vice President of LEGO, it’s something I never thought possible. I have always been creative and enjoy bringing my ideas to life through LEGO. I loved playing with LEGO as I grew up, and then when I went to university I hid it away for a little bit, then once I was married and my own kids appeared, I thought ‘yes! I can get all the LEGO out again.”

Within the last 10 years, Steve has pushed the boundaries of building, and has had his work displayed at LEGO exhibitions, as well as writing articles for magazines. Steve first heard about LEGO Masters through a LEGO user group for AFOLs, or Adult Fans of LEGO, so both him and his team mate Nate applied. As the LEGO world is not usually one for competition, the competitive edge to the show is both unusual and unmissable, no doubt why it has proved so popular with viewers. The show has also helped Steve personally, “At the beginning of the process, I didn’t have a lot of confidence in myself, but the experience has really helped me to battle with my anxiety and boost my self-esteem.”

As winners of the show Steve and Nate will travel to the LEGO Headquarters in Billund, Denmark for four days in October half-term, alongside their fellow finalists Nicholas and Kobe. During their trip they will get to recreate their LEGO creation from the final, where it will be put on display. Matthew Ashton, judge and Vice-President of Design, 16 wirrallife.com

will also personally show them around and they will get to meet various LEGO Design Teams.

Birkenhead School’s close-knit community got behind their very own Mr Guinness as he took part in the competition, with him proving a hot topic of discussion at school drop off and pick up times, as well as on the school’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. On speaking to members of his A-level class, the overall feeling is one of great happiness for Steve.

“Everyone is so incredibly proud of Mr Guinness’s achievements. There wasn’t anyone in this school who wasn’t glued to their TV screens on the night of the final, and, like many others, I hope Mr. Guinness continues to flourish in the LEGO community” says Atreyi Saha, an A-level student taught by Steve.

Paul Vicars, Headmaster at Birkenhead School, comments “The day after the final, Steve brought the trophy in to share with the school community. Everyone is so proud of his achievements and the pupils from the youngest in Prep to sixth formers have all been congratulating him. We’ve long admired Steve’s creativity and his inspirational work in the classroom and it was fascinating to see the creations produced during his time on the show.”

The curriculum at Birkenhead School includes LEGO and LEGO Robotics within Design and Technology lessons as well as co-curricular clubs within the School. “Using LEGO as an educational tool is engaging and provides a platform for pupils to think critically and creatively whilst still having fun” comments Steve.

Following LEGO Masters, Steve, has said how he’d love to keep creating LEGO builds and is keen to start making commissions, for Birkenhead School and for others as well, and is very much looking forward to future, LEGO-inspired, projects. Steve and his build partner Nate will be in the limelight once again, when they appear on stage for interviews at the LEGO enthusiast exhibition, BRICKLIVE, at the NEC in October.

LEGO Masters has done so much to highlight the passion and creativity that LEGO fans have for their building medium, that this year’s exhibition is sure to be a great success. When thinking about the legacy of the show and of his high hopes for this popular programme, Steve said, “I hope that it will inspire people to get some bricks out, throw away the instructions and have a go at exploring their creative side and to learn to embrace their inner child.”

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THE INTERVIEW: MATTHEW ASHTON

20 wirrallife.com

WWINTERVIEW L L

AN INTERVIEW WITH MATTHEW ASHTON Matthew Ashton from Upton - Vice President of Design at LEGO, co-executive producer of The LEGO® Movie, LEGO Batman Movie and Head Judge on Channel 4’s LEGO Masters show talks to Wirral Life in an exclusive interview.

After achieving your degree in Fashion Design, you originally went to LEGO to do freelance work, and the rest as they say is history. But do you still harbour a desire to work in the fashion industry again?

While I thoroughly enjoyed studying fashion and textile design, my heart is now well and truly rooted in the toy industry. Being a toy designer was something that I dreamed about as a kid, but was something that I never really considered a ‘real’ job, it was something Santa’s little helpers did, or Tom Hanks from the movie ‘BIG!’. I had never met a ‘real life’ toy designer, and you hear so little about them, so becoming one just seemed like a pipe dream. I knew I wanted to do something creative. I was a bit of an all-rounder at Art College, and I kind of fell into fashion as it seemed like the best thing for me at the time. Luckily for me, some LEGO talent scouts stumbled across my work at an exhibition in London, where I had minimized my final catwalk collection and displayed them on Barbie dolls. They loved my work and plucked me from obscurity and made that little ‘7 year old version of me’ dreams come true.

After the enormous success of the first LEGO movie and the LEGO Batman movie (with a combined gross of nearly half a billion dollars), can you tell us if you will be producing more LEGO superhero movies - LEGO Avengers, etc? Or are you going in a different direction?

There are more LEGO Movies in the works but I can’t go into the specifics of what they are as that information is highly confidential.

What I can tell you is that I am currently working on The LEGO Movie 2, which is incredibly exciting but also extremely ambitious. It’s so nice to be able to bring Emmet and co. back to the big screen, but I’m afraid you guys are going to have to wait until 2019 to see what kind of adventure we are taking the gang on!

You were recently head of the judges on the very popular Channel 4 show ‘LEGO Masters’. Where did that idea come from? Will there be another series?

It all stemmed back to when we made a behind-the-scenes documentary for Channel 4 called ‘The Secret World of LEGO’. Part of that program focused on the recruitment process that we use for finding new talent to work in the LEGO Product Design Department. We receive so many applications for our Design Positions that we have found the best way to identify who the best people are for the job, is to select who we feel are the most appropriate candidates, and then fly them to LEGO Headquarters in Billund, Denmark for a recruitment workshop. This is where they will be interviewed but also asked to complete a series of design and building challenges, so we can see up close just how skilled and talented they are in real life, how well they work in teams and if they have the right profile to fit the job. Some very clever people

at Tuesday’s Child (the production company) and Channel 4 thought this would make a perfect format for a challenge show, so they put together a pitch and presented it to the LEGO Group. We loved it and we decided to give it a go. I was then asked to go through a series of screen tests along with some other LEGO Design Employees before being cast in the very exciting but also extremely daunting role of Head Judge.

The show has been amazing to be part of. I have met so many wonderful people, and all the contestants were incredible and so inspiring! The first season was quite short with just 4 episodes, so while it was a lot of fun, I really didn’t feel I got into the swing of things until the final episode and then it was all over. I really hope we get to make a second season, but I am still waiting to hear if it gets recommissioned. Fingers crossed Melvin and I will be back in the ‘Build Room’ with some brand new teams and exciting challenges at some point next year!

Working with Warner Bros on the movies must have been pretty exciting compared to your normal day, was it as you dreamed it might be, or quite a challenge?

Oh my gosh, when I look at my life, I can’t believe the journey I have been on. Just landing my dream job as a toy designer was incredible in itself! I would never ever have imagined that one day I would also be working on a TV show and helping to make movies too… it’s been mind-blowing! Of course, like all things in life, these projects have had their ups and downs. We have been incredibly lucky to work with some of the most talented directors, writers and animators that we could have wished for - that in itself has been a blessing. But of course on any project like this there are crazy deadlines, and heaps of opinions that cause bumps in the road - but at the end of the day, we pulled it off and made some movies we are incredibly proud of. So many people were sceptical about us venturing into movie-making territory, so the pressure was on from the get-go. It was huge relief when we received such positive reviews and overwhelming audience reactions. Those films mean so much to me!

A popular reaction when we announced you as the next big interview was “Wow - he must have the world’s coolest office”. Surely one of the most enjoyable positions in the world - designing toys and ‘playing’ with LEGO as a job. You’re also now managing a large team, do you still get time to play?

Yes, the pressure is on. And yes, in some respects it is a dream job, in others it feels like I have a huge responsibility on my shoulders. The LEGO brand is such a loved and recognised brand across the world, so making sure that we create products that live up to or exceed people’s expectations year after year can be quite a challenge. I luckily work with wirrallife.com 21

a team of incredibly talented designers who are so passionate about what we do that we generally hit the mark. So yes, there is a balance of living a ridiculous Willy Wonka-style dream job, where I have an excuse not to ‘really’ grow up, but I also have to put my business hat on, make some tough decisions and be commercially focused too. It may surprise you to hear that I don’t actually have my own office, I’m sat in the thick of it working alongside our designers in an open plan studio.

My boss tried to put me in an office once which lasted about 4 months as it drove me stir-crazy. I need to be out and about and inspired by the creative people I work with. I’m also a bit of a social butterfly, who likes to have a giggle and a goss with my colleagues too. I do try to stick to a minimal LEGO building outside of work rule. When it is your day job, it’s healthy to have other interests outside, so very little building outside of work (I can hear AFOLS (Adult Fans of LEGO) gasping in horror as they read this!) and I find other ways to have fun outside of work.

It must have been interesting to move to Denmark all those years ago. How have you found living abroad?

Denmark in itself is very nice, although the LEGO Group is based in Billund in rural Jutland, so it’s quite quiet. I live in a town called Vejle which is about 30 minutes away from work and has all the amenities that you need – nice shops, cinema, restaurants and coffee shops.

Danes in general are really lovely and as a nation they have somehow managed to strike that very difficult balance between work and life.

Their families and children are extremely important to them, and in many cases prioritized over work, so they have a really good standard of living. Working in the LEGO Design Department, we have over 200 hundred employees from all around the world. At last count, we represent 32 different nationalities, so having such a big expat group we really support each other and find ways to have our own fun. Being a creative bunch, there are the obligatory fancy-dress parties thrown for whatever occasion and usually everyone pulls out all the stops. Of course it’s not all rosy, and there are so many things I miss from home, especially family and friends, but also British telly, food and all the naughty stuff like Cadbury’s chocolate and the odd bag of Monster Munch or Salt and Vinegar Squares. We are really lucky though, as we have an international airport ten minutes from work, so I can jump on a plane and burst out of the Billund bubble and be back in the UK in just over an hour!

As you know, the Wirral has a Danish heritage - It’s very fashionable to talk about the Danish “Hygge” (pronounced “HUE-gah - a Danish ritual - meaning to enjoy life’s simple pleasures) do you have any other favourite Danish rituals?

Danes have some really funny traditions... if you reach 30 and you are still single, your friends will douse you head to toe in pepper, or erect a ridiculous large home made statue crafted from oil drums outside your front door, which is impossible to move or get rid of. Kids’ birthdays are celebrated with a Kagemand, (instead of a traditional birthday cake as you know it) – it’s like a giant flat sugar-coated bread thing in the shape of a man, and instead of blowing out some candles and 22 wirrallife.com

making a wish, everyone has to scream while you lop his head off!

They also have Fastelavn, which I guess is similar to our Halloween, where everyone dresses up and then bashes a barrel with a stick (piñata style) until it bursts and sweets fall out… luckily they have moved on from the original tradition which had something to do with bashing a barrel with a real life cat in it! They do also have some really charming Christmas traditions where a ‘Nisse’ invades the family home in the run up to Christmas - this is represented by a plush gnome (kind of like Elf on a Shelf), then while everyone is asleep the ‘Nisse’ gets up to mischief during the night. When the kids wake up, they find naughty ‘Nisse’ has dyed the milk blue (with food colouring), strewn toilet roll all over the place, or stuck kids toys to the ceiling… little kids go crazy for this and think it is the most hilarious thing ever!

What’s your favourite memory of the Wirral?

Oh my gosh there are too many to think of. A lot of them are quite outdoors. I loved playing in the back garden of our house on Manor Drive in Upton (my parents have now moved). We had an amazing willow tree which you could hide inside underneath the boughs, it had swings hidden inside it and my brother, sister and I used to pretend it was the Batcave. I loved school, I went to Christ Church Primary in Moreton, and then Wallasey School (now Kingsway Academy), so it’s a lot about mucking about with my school friends. But also lovely family walks with the dogs in Royden Park, Thurstaston, or a day trip to Hilbre Island or rolling down the sand hills at Harrison Drive as a kid!

What style is your home in Denmark – modern minimalist?

My flat is in dire need of a bit of a revamp. I moved in 10 years ago with all these grand ideas, and bought a place that would be a ‘bit of a project.’ I did a little bit of decorating, but then work and travel has gotten in the way of my masterplan a bit. I live in an apartment on the top floor of a four story building, and I guess compared to a lot of homes in the UK, the style is pretty minimal. It’s an older building with a lot of character. The inside is all white and clean with wooden floors, and it has a lovely balcony with an amazing view… it’s just such a shame that it’s only sunny 3 or 4 days a year so I don’t get to use it much. I’ll be off travelling for work for a week and get home and everyone will tell me ‘Oops, sorry, you just missed Danish summer!’

How do you relax and unwind?

I enjoy the usual drinks or dinner round at a friend’s place, cinema and the odd night out. I like to have a few creative projects on the go for any spare second too. A couple of my friends are really good bakers, so I let them do the cake making and then I will shape and decorate them for people’s birthdays! I also come back to London quite a bit and stay with friends over there, and play with my godson and his brother and sister. And I love a bit of heartwarming telly – I’m ploughing through a Golden Girls box set at the moment, and am overjoyed that Will & Grace is back. When I’m in the UK I love to catch up on Bake Off and the like, and my guilty pleasure is a cheeky bit of Gogglebox! :)

• Alison Brie: voice of Unikitty

Favourite film. Last book that you read. Last film you saw?

Oh my, I have such an eclectic taste in films everything from Toy Story (3) and The Little Mermaid, to ARGO to Silence of the Lambs. I’m a bit all over the place, but I generally like anything that sparks an emotion or hits a nerve… I like a good giggle, to be scared senseless or to blub into a tub of Ben & Jerry’s (preferred flavour Vermonster) in my PJs. I also love musicals like Moulin Rouge, and Star Wars has a very special place in my heart too. Controversially, ‘Return of the Jedi’ is probably my favourite Star Wars Movie – I was always obsessed with Leia, I love Jabba and I am also pro-Ewok (told you it was controversial!) When it comes to books I’m also ashamed to admit I love a trashy celebrity auto biography – last one I read was probably Scarlet Moffatt’s (Sorry Scarlett Moffat if you are reading this! I am not at all suggesting you are trashy – I love you to bits!) Last movie I saw was The LEGO Ninjago Movie.

It would have been rude not to as a lot of my friends and colleagues worked on it!

What was the best piece of advice that you have been given?

Stop worrying about what people think of you! (It hasn’t really worked, as I am still worrying what people think of me… in fact I think I have probably made the situation worse by sticking myself on telly, so now I worry what even more people think of me!)

Do you get back to the Wirral often and what do you like to do when you’re here?

I try to come back to the Wirral to visit my parents whenever I can and if there are any family events happening. I am home every Christmas, and a couple of times throughout the year, it’s mostly social stuff, catching up with relatives and people from school, or popping to the local garden centre for a cream tea or a piece of cake with my mum.

Are you a collector and what are your favourite things (art, watches, cars, etc)?

Being a toy designer, it’s probably not going to come as a great surprise to many people that I actually collect toys – anything from my childhood favourites from the 80s to collector vinyl toys. The dream is to ultimately have a nice display room where I can showcase all my favourites, but unfortunately most of them are in storage or squeezed into my spare room toy-tetras style. Anyone who visits is pre-warned to open the spare room door at their own risk, unless they want to be buried alive under an avalanche of plastic bricks, robots in disguise, or rainbow-maned plastic ponies… yes that’s right people, I’m an extreme herder!

Do you have a bucket list and if so, what’s on it?

I think I’m doing pretty well as far as my list is concerned. It would be lovely to have some time to take a proper cooking class, but that will have to wait for now. In the meantime, I just want to have the odd surprise and challenge thrown my way occasionally to keep things fresh and exciting so I am always on my toes!

If you weren’t a toy designer, what other job would you like to do?

Probably a wedding planner! I love a good wedding , and have been to so

• Chris Pratt: voice of Emmet

• Will Arnett: voice of Batman

many now… ‘always the bridesmaid never the bride!’ I love organising parties, and decorating and all that kind of stuff and I also think I am capable of handling the odd Bridezilla too! I have probably been planning my own wedding since I was about 7 years old (Muriel style), but as I haven’t met my match yet, I would be more than content making other people’s marital dreams come true. If not a wedding planner then maybe a costume designer or a chocolate taster!

What’s your favourite food and do you like to eat out or prefer to cook?

I do like to cook, but with my busy schedule I don’t have that much time. Also, cooking for one can be quite monotonous, so I tend to eat out quite a bit with my friends. There isn’t a lot of choice for food in the town I live in so we usually default to our favourite restaurant, which does a variety of different specials all with a Danish twist! But when I am travelling I do love a bit of sushi. When I am in LA, I always pop to Katsuya for Albacore with Crispy Onions and Yellow tail sashimi with jalepenos! Living abroad means I really miss real comfort food, like my mum’s Sunday Roast, so when I’m back in Britain I love a good old British pub lunch like Sausage and Mash, with a good old dollop of wholegrain mustard. I also have an incredibly sweet tooth too - I’m a bit of a chocoholic and love anything salted caramel, especially ice cream!

So yes all the good healthy stuff, which then means I need to go on a crash diet before I appear on telly!

Where do you like to go on holiday and why?

For a proper relaxing holiday, it’s probably Bali. I have been there twice and it is beautiful. One year I thought, right, I’m still single and may never get married, so I decided to splash out on a lavish ‘honeymoon for one’ and stayed in the most wonderful Spa Resort in Ubud, with breathtaking manicured grounds set in the heart of the lush jungle with a view over the layered rice fields. It was the most tranquil, relaxing, zen place I had ever been, the moment I walked through the gates I was hit by a wave of calm for the first time in my life - it was so beautiful I wanted to cry!

You have family here in UK – will you be spending Christmas here or in Denmark – or somewhere else?

Yes I will be back on the Wirral over Christmas and the new year catching up with my family and old school friends.

We all want the LEGO Millennium Falcon (no really, we do) but what’s top of your Christmas wish list (for yourself!) … A break?

While my job is amazing, it is pretty full-on; overseeing toy development as the day job, travelling lots while assisting making a movie and filming a TV show at weekends can take its toll - so I really just want to wind down and spend some time with the people I love and don’t get to see very often.

If you would like to follow Matthew, you can find him on Twitter at @matthew__ashton (double underscore).

wirrallife.com wirrallife.com 23 19

A DV E RT I S I N G F E AT U R E

Is your income suffering from record-low interest rates?

Wealth management specialist Wilf Burns explores your options.

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ncome is important. It’s an obvious statement. The difficulty is that, in an uncertain world, investment income is hard to find right now. Investors looking for income have faced an increasing challenge ever since the financial crisis broke in 2008.

Prudence and vigilance became the order of the day as financial institutions across the globe took extreme measures to protect themselves from global meltdown.

Central Governments across the world also reacted strongly, forcing interest rates to record lows. Six years on and interest rates in the UK remain almost non-existent. The result is real losses for savers in bank and building society deposits which fail to match inflation.

With dividend payouts on the turn, the outlook for equity income funds could also be on the up. Equity income funds have a strong track record for delivering attractive, sustainable income and steady returns over the long term. But it is worth remembering that not all equity income funds are the same. Some are better for income, while others provide better prospects for total return investors through the reinvestment of income. St. James’s Place offers a range of equity income funds managed by investment managers with complementary styles.

Investors wanting to secure a better level of income have realised that they must look beyond traditional cash deposits.

Corporate bond funds which are, by their nature income producers, remain popular particularly with cautious investors. At St. James’s Place we firmly subscribe to the view that a diversified fixed interest strategy with exposure to investment grade, subinvestment grade and senior secured debt will help position your portfolio to benefit from growth across the credit spectrum.

History shows that investing in equities, or shares, has provided investors with a better chance of outpacing inflation over the long term versus other asset classes, particularly if the shares are able to increase the dividend payments year after year. Positively, there are indications that the recent trend of increasing dividend payments could be sustainable.

Commercial property felt the full effects of the credit crunch and the fall in property values left many investors nursing significant losses. But again, history suggests that commercial property has a place in a portfolio for income investors. Its long-term track record is strong and, importantly, it offers returns that are lowly correlated to other

WILF BURNS Associate Partner Tel: 0151 958 0496 Email: wilf.burns@sjpp.co.uk Web: www.wilfburns.co.uk

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asset classes. Investors should however note that investing in real asset classes (equities, corporate bonds and commercial property) does not provide the security of capital which is characteristic of a deposit account with a bank or building society. The value of capital, and income from it, can fall as well as rise and you may not get back the original amount invested.

Those investing for income need to remember that no one asset class is the panacea. With uncertainty around interest rates, a welldiversified, well-managed portfolio which blends a range of asset classes remains the most suitable strategy for investors to satisfy their longer-term income needs.

At St. James’s Place we believe that our ability to tailor solutions to an individual’s needs and attitude to risk means your income investments are in good hands.

The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested.

The Partner represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The title ‘Partner’ is the marketing term used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.

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WIRRAL SCUBA DIVER SHARES SHIPWRECK STORY WITH DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE A SCUBA diver who helped recover a cannon from the wreckage of a historic ship, which set a record for the fastest Atlantic crossing, has told the Duke of Cambridge about how the vessel met its fate in Liverpool Bay more than 130 years ago.

Geoff Oldfield, 69, a member of the Merseyside branch of the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) recounted the story of the SS City of Brussels during His Royal Highness’ visit to their clubhouse and training pool in Seacombe, Wallasey, on Thursday.

The Duke was on a tour of the Wirral and made time to visit Mersey Divers, which is part of BSAC – the UK’s governing body for scuba diving and snorkelling. The Duke took over the BSAC Presidency from his father The Prince of Wales in May 2014 and followed in the footsteps of both his father and grandfather to become the third generation of the Royal Family to take the helm. Geoff explained to His Royal Highness that the Glasgow built passenger ship sank in January 1883 after being struck by another vessel near the end of its voyage from New York to Liverpool, resulting in the tragic death of 10 of the 167 people on board. The SS City of Brussels had encountered thick fog and the captain brought it to a stop to wait for the weather to clear, but a short time after a new cargo ship called the Kirby Hall, which was on its maiden voyage from the River Clyde to Bombay, collided with the starboard side of the vessel, almost cutting it in two. The ship, owned by the Inman Line shipping company, had launched in 1869 and in the same year set the fastest east bound crossing of the Atlantic for a powered vessel at 7 days, 20 hours and 33 minutes - a record it held for three months. The wreckage of the fated vessel was discovered in 1984 and quickly became a popular destination for scuba divers, though it wasn’t until 1998 that Geoff and his fellow members decided to embark on a hugely challenging mission to recover one of the ship’s cannons and help preserve her ill-fated story for future generations. The Duke of Cambridge called into the Merseyside Sub-Aqua Club base to chat with members of different ages and listened with great interest about the lengths that have been taken to preserve the cannon, which is on display in the clubhouse. Commenting on HRH’s visit, Geoff said: “He was very friendly and very open, and extremely interested in our expedition to raise the cannon. He was impressed at how we had managed to do five dives in 45 minutes to raise the cannon. I also talked to him about the wreck itself and explained how 10 people lost their lives, when the ship sunk. Today has been a total pleasure - a real honour.”

Geoff, from Moreton, Wirral, said that once the club became aware of 26 wirrallife.com

one of the ship’s two cannons being amongst the wreckage they were desperate to recover it. He explained: “It was one of our most popular wrecks to dive in Liverpool Bay because it was so substantial. We’ve been diving it for decades. One of my colleagues mentioned that they had seen a cannon and we were really keen to recover it but knew this was going to be a big task. We also needed to learn how to conserve and preserve the cannon if we managed to recover it. We knew if we didn’t do anything it was quickly going to crumble into dust because it was made of cast iron. We approached Merseyside Maritime Museum for help and they were only too pleased to show us about electrolysis and conservation.”

The 14-strong team working on the project now had to put together a plan to recover the cannon from the wreck, which was going to prove a major challenge given the strong tidal movement in Liverpool Bay. Geoff, who has been diving for 43 years, said: “You probably get about an hour of still water here so we had to get it done very quickly. When you think of the amount of tasks we had to do and the fact there was five separate dives, to complete the lift in 45 minutes was beyond our wildest dreams. We did the dive in March 1998 and I remember it was very calm with good visibility. They were perfect conditions. Once we’d recovered the cannon it took us six hours to tow it back to New Brighton. We’d come back in with the tide and were in darkness by the end of it. It was a long day! The wreck is very special to scuba divers of the North West so recovering the cannon is something we’re very proud of. It was a really good expedition and afterwards we made sure we declared the cannon to The MCA Receiver of Wrecks.” Work then began on trying to conserve the cannon- a process which took more than six years to complete.

Geoff explained: “A special tank was built for the cannon but unfortunately as it was made out of steel originally it corroded due to the electrolysis and sprang a leak. The tank was then lined with fibreglass and the electrolysis continued for a little over a year. Then the cannon was flushed with fresh water regularly for a further five years. It was a long process. It is now on display in our boathouse and although it isn’t in pristine condition it’s much better than it would have been if it had been left on the wreck or left untreated. It’s a constant reminder of that important Mersey Divers expedition and it was a pleasure to share it with The Duke of Cambridge.”

To find out more about learning scuba diving skills with BSAC, please visit www.bsac.com or find them on Facebook or Twitter @BSACDivers.

GUESS WHO’S JUST OPENED A NEW PET SHOP?

LLANNERCH PARK, ST. ASAPH, LL17 0UY, NORTH WALES (JUST OFF THE A55). TEL: 01745 730072 www.tweedmill.co.uk

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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 care can be broadly split into routine and emergency treatment. Routine treatment’s such as vaccinations and parasite control can be relatively well planned for and will rarely cause financial hardship. Some practice’s offer direct debit schemes to help split this cost, but sometimes these can restrict choice and are often not tailored to the individual needs and risks of the patient. Additionally, sometimes they don’t even save you money!

The most common routine question we get asked is about vaccinations, and whether a pet should have them and needs boosters each year. Each practice will have their own protocol, but we offer vaccination consultations, which take a look at the individual patient and their risk factors. We benefit from not having commercial tie-in to certain brands or companies meaning we can pick the protocol for your pet that meets their risk. For puppy vaccinations, we recommend they have an injection at 8 weeks and 12 weeks. Vaccinating at 10 weeks significantly increases the chance the vaccine won’t work. The first booster we recommend is given at 9-12 months to give the best protection.

The same can be said for parasite treatment and we would advise caution about any practice using a standard parasite treatment for all patients – the best product will vary based on where you live, where they exercise and their diet for example. We think your pet deserves tailored veterinary care.

However, it is emergency illness or surgery that is more likely to come unannounced and often costs significantly more.

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Whilst it can seem a good idea to shop around (we do it for car insurance don’t we?) it’s always worth asking what does the estimate include as not all vets are offering the same. Even nowadays some vets do not place IV catheters for surgery, or will reuse surgical needles!

These things will make the treatment cheaper but is it a saving worth making? Sanderson Vet doesn’t think so! Our philosophy is to do things once, and to do them right. In the words of Aristotle “Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

A successful diagnosis often reduces how many drugs are used, and thus minimises side effects. A recent study showed that the use of antibiotics significantly increases the risk of developing MRSA for several months after. This poses a human and animal health risk and we recommend diagnosis rather than trialling treatment blindly, potentially compromising our pet and our immediate families health.

For those larger bills (we offer many specialist procedures such as fracture repair, chest surgery and chemotherapy) we offer a 6-12 month interest-free payment plan to help spread the cost meaning at Sanderson Vet your pet can access the very best care available.

For more information, call 07841 865855 or visit www.sandersonvet.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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HILLBARK HOTEL HOST WINE TASTING EVENING The Contessa Hotels Group and Atlas Fine Wines joined forces to host a food and wine extravaganza for 20 hand selected guests. The event was held in the splendour of the Contessa Hotels owned Hillbark Hotel cellar in Frankby.

Atlas Fine Wines Ltd is a privately funded fine wine company based in the City of London, with a subsidiary in Switzerland, and provides a specialist service and advice to fine wine collectors.

Each guest was treated to a champagne reception, followed by a number of carefully chosen flights of fine wine. Each flight was served with food to match from the Hillbark Hotel ‘Riviera’ menu. Champagne de Sousa 3A was served with marinated beetroots and green lentil and apple salad. Two stunning white wines (2007 Riesling, Cuvee ‘Frederic Emile’, Trimbach and 2010 Meursault, 1er Cru ‘Poruzots’, Antoine Jobard) were then served with carpaccio of Yellowfin tuna, octopus in lemon oil, crab and avocado salad and warm prawns. Between courses venison carpaccio and pata negra ham were served.

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The main course consisted of roast leg of lamb with spiced couscous, beef wellington and suckling pig. These were served with an outstanding selection of red wines from Piedmont (2005 Barolo, ‘Ravera’, Cogno; 2005 Barolo, ‘Cascina Francia’, Giacomo Conterno; 2005 Barbaresco, ‘Rabaja’, Bruno Giacosa). This was followed by a selection of cheeses, served with three world famous clarets (1996 Chateau Leoville-Barton; 1996 Chateau Leoville-Poyferre; 1996 Chateau Leoville-Las Cases).

To round off, lemon sorbet with iced vodka was served, followed by fried brioche with cinnamon and spiced ice cream, chocolate mousse, passion fruit posset with tropical fruit and vanilla crème brule. The final wine of the night was the sumptuous 2012 Primitivo di Manduria ‘Es’ from Gianfranco Fino.

Craig Baker, Owner of Contessa Hotels said: “The evening was a huge success, so much so that we will be organising several more in the future.”

THE FINEST WELSH PRODUCE The Mill Farm shop offers an excellent choice of great quality products sourced from handpicked local suppliers, showcasing the very best that Wales has to offer. You will find a wonderful selection of artisan foods from handmade cakes and bread to jams, chutneys and pickles. Not forgetting our extensive range of award-winning Welsh and international wines, whisky, vodka, gin, ale and cider.

You’ll also find lots of specialty dishes at our award-winning butchers and deil counter. The tastiest Welsh black beef stir-fry’s, curries, kebabs, burgers, sausages and pies, all made in-house to our own special recipes.

LLANNERCH PARK, ST. ASAPH, LL17 0UY, NORTH WALES (JUST OFF THE A55). TEL: 01745 730072 www.tweedmill.co.uk

TIS THE SEASON £ £ £

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THE BUTCHERS CUT

BY MUFFS OF BROMBOROUGH

COQ AU VIN INGREDIENTS •

• • • •

Whole chicken cut into 10 portions (ask our butchers to do this for you) Salt & black pepper 4 slices of Smoky bacon cut into lardons (ask our butcher to do this) About 12 mushrooms some cut in ¼, some in ½ Small onion, sliced

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METHOD • • • • • • •

6 shallots whole Chantennay carrots 2 teaspoons flour 3 teaspoons quality butter ½ bottle of good rich red wine, you must use a good quality one for this.

Fresh thyme ½ pint of chicken stock

1. In an oven proof casserole, pot fry off the bacon until crispy then remove and keep to one side.

2. Season chicken with salt & pepper, then brown off the chicken skin side down to begin with. You’re not cooking all the way at this point just getting some colour on the chicken. Remove to one side.

3. Sweat off the mushroom, onion, shallots and carrots.

4. Put in the flour and butter and mix in well, ensuring no lumps.

5. Add the red wine along with the thyme and bacon.

6. Reduce by about one third then add the chicken and chicken stock and bring back up to a simmer.

7. In a pre-heated oven 200oC bake for 30 minutes. Check the chicken is cooked all the way through. Always check the biggest pieces with the most bone. If they are cooked the rest should be.

8. Once the chicken is cooked plate it up.

9. Reduce the sauce if necessary to the right thickness and check for seasoning. Then spoon the sauce all over the chicken.

FANTASTIC FESTIVE FEASTS

we’ll give you some helpful tips on how to cook your best Christmas feast ever.

FINE FOODS AND DELI

EST 1974

Whether its Beef, Pork or Lamb Roasting Joints, Mollasses & Treacle Gammon Joints, Turkeys, Pheasants, or our home made pigs-in-blankets and our special selection of the tastiest stuffings you’ve ever had, we’ve got everything you’ll ever need for the ultimate Christmas feast.

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

CALL US ON 0151 334 2002 TO ORDER YOUR POULTRY TODAY

Christmas at The Red Fox Our Christmas menu, available as two courses or three courses, runs from Monday 27th November until Boxing Day. Turkey, with all the traditional festive accompaniments, is of course at the heart of the show, but there are plenty of exciting alternatives from near and far to please and tempt.

We’ve started planning our spectacular display of decorations within the pub this year and, would you believe it, we are already fully booked for Christmas day!

So don’t wait too long to make your booking for a fabulous Christmas with us here at the Red Fox.

Book a table For Christmas booking enquiries, please call: 0151 353 2925 or visit: www.redfox.pub/christmas Liverpool Rd • Thornton Hough • Wirral • CH64 7TL

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THE WHISKY CONNOISSEUR

BY DAVID GREEN, THE RED FOX

This month, we are off to Speyside and to perhaps one of the most recognisable names in the world of whisky. The Macallan is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery based just outside Craigellachie, Moray, north east of Scotland.

Founded in 1824, The Macallan was one of the first Scottish distilleries to be legally licensed, today it is one of the largest in Scotland. In fact, it is third in total world sales for single malts, producing and selling 000’s of bottles worldwide every year.

Located on a 390-acre estate in the Scottish Highlands, using water from springs beneath its estate, The Macallan makes single malt whiskies using the smallest commercial stills in Speyside. Their unique size and shape gives the spirit maximum contact with the copper, helping to concentrate the new-make spirit with rich, fruity, full-bodied flavours. These stills are so famous that they appear on the back of a Bank of Scotland £10 note.

Look closely and you’ll see bottles of The Macallan in well know films and TV shows. In Suits, Harvey Spector drinks Macallan 18, and Bond is seen toasting with a ‘Macallan 50’ in Skyfall. The Macallan is one of the most sought-after whiskies for collectors having built a strong reputation for quality malt whisky; rare expressions can change hands for thousands of pounds, and prices for such bottles are continuously going up.

In 2014, a decanter of The Macallan ‘M’ whisky sold at auction in Hong Kong for a record breaking $628,205 and earlier this year a collection of Macallan single malts set a new world record price for any lot of whisky sold at auction, selling for $993,000.

The distillery invests a lot of time and effort into sourcing and making casks for maturing their spirit, and it makes sense, as it’s the single greatest contributor to the outstanding quality, natural colours and the distinctive aromas and flavours of The Macallan malts. They are said to spend more per cask than any other distillery, they really do love their casks, so much so that they are the only Scotch distiller with a dedicated job role ‘Master of Wood’ who’s job it is to purely oversee the casks.

All the colours in The Macallan whiskies are natural. The interaction of the spirit with the casks delivers the rich and natural diversity of colour throughout the range, from light oak through to darkest mahogany. Great skill is required by the Master Whisky Maker to achieve consistency of natural colour from bottling to bottling.

For me, any Macallan dram is worthwhile. For those new to the distiller, Macallan Gold, a blend of 9 to 15 year old casks, or Macallan 12 Year Old Fine Oak are both good starting points.

Although you can still find age statement whiskies in the range, Macallan, like many other distilleries, have been moving in the direction of NAS (No Age Statement).

My pick of this month, Sienna, is one such no age statement release and forms part of the 1824 Series which takes its name from the year that The Macallan was founded. Sienna is the second-darkest whisky in the 1824 Series and has been matured in American oak as well as sherry casks and balances rich driedfruit sweetness with some lighter, spicier notes.

On the nose it has a buttery creamy quality with thick sweet malty goodness where the bourbon seems to meet you first with the sherry playing catch-up just ever so behind. On the palate this whisky is silky smooth, with medium oils in your mouth combined with just a sprinkling of spice, mostly due to the slight hike in ABV, which for me is a welcomed thing. I really get fruitcake-sweet aromas with dates, figs and raisins and then a hint of oranges and apples, before vanilla returns in grandeur.

The final fanfare is gentle, smooth and warming.

The Red Fox has recently been voted in the top ten whisky pubs in the UK by The Good Pub Guide so to celebrate we are holding a whisky weekend from the 8th to 10th November, we will feature a number of malts from The Macallan range, check our www.redfox.pub for more information.

Sienna is available at The Red Fox or grab a bottle for £74.55 at www.thewhiskyexchange.com wirrallife.com 37

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WINE CONNOISSEUR

BY THE LAWNS, THORNTON HALL

Italian wines are so easy to drink and when paired with food the flavour and nature of the wine is emphasised to the full.

At The Lawns, Thornton Hall, we pride ourselves on our wine cellar, we hold in stock some of the world’s most renowned varieties. Our next wine and dine evening is our “Yuletide Tasting Evening” on December 9th but for now, here is the selection of our top 5 wines.

Prosecco Spumante, Amori (100% Glera ABV 11.5%) This company is the brainchild of an Italian, a Frenchman, and a Dutchman. Stefano Girelli, Philippe Marx and Peter Kosten have combined their skill and experience to bring affordable good value wines from across Italy, with the help of renowned Italian winemaker Stefano Chioccioli who makes all the wines.

Bright aromas of pears apples and peaches are followed by more of the same on the palate. Gentle easy-going sparkler from north eastern Italy.

Vernaccia di San Gimignano "Clara Stella" 2016 (100% Vernaccia ABV 13.0% ) Cappella Sant’Andrea, named after St Andrea’s Chapel, is a delightful estate within sight of the famous medieval towers of San Gimignano in Tuscany. There are only six hectares of vines but they are part of a larger working farm that has olive trees, donkeys, goats, chickens and even a few rabbits. It’s run by a young couple, Flavia del Seta and her winemaker husband, Francesco. Flavia’s mother, Antonella, inherited the property from her father Giovanni Leoncini and uncle Renato who bought it in 1959. The vines are in conversion to organic viticulture and there are modern winemaking facilities, complete with stainless steel tanks to retain maximum freshness. This is a classic seafood wine this has pervasive fruit with a touch of honey and silky texture followed by a hint of bitterness on the finish.

Gavi DOCG del Comune di Gavi, La Chiara 2016 (100% Cortese ABV 12.5%) This 6.5 hectare estate in Piedmont was established by Ferdinando Bergaglio in 1975. He felt that his previous experience with famous winemakers in Gavi gave him sufficient expertise to set up La Chiara. Currently run by Roberto and Silvana Bergaglio 38 wirrallife.com

with uncompromising attention to detail. This small estate's low yields give this wine a juicy, honey-like core. Add the Cortese grape's apple-like freshness, and you have a standard bearer for Gavi, Piedmont's most famous dry white.

Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOC, Vigne Alte, Zeni 2012 (50% Corvina, 45% Rondinella, 5% Molinara`ABV 15.5%) The family owned Zeni Winery is situated a stone's throw away from Lake Garda just up above the picturesque town of Bardolino in the Veneto. They were established in 1870. Fausto, Elena and Federica run the business following in their father Gaetano ‘Nino’ Zeni's footsteps. Ideally situated in the heart of the region they have the pick of the bunch from the long-term contract growers they deal with to help supplement their own production. They now manage 25 hectares of vineyards. They export over 80% of their production all over Europe, the US and Canada. Amarone is a powerful, concentrated dry red that is properly made from grapes that have been dried in airy barns.

This is a superb example with mature, complex flavours.

El Aziz, Vendemmia Tardiva, IGT Sicilia, Fina (100% Grillo ABV 14.0%) Bruno Fina is a man with an agenda. Stocky, shaven-headed, he cuts the sort of figure that doesn’t let much get in its way. This has involved launching his own impressive range of wines and building a huge ‘baglio-cantina’ a mansion-cum-winery in an Arab-Sicilian style. Sitting on an escarpment, this is visible from miles around and conversely his dining room has spectacular views over the sea to the island of Favignana. Bruno doesn't have much in the way of vineyards but that doesn’t matter when your hinterland is one of the largest vineyard areas in Europe. His winemaking skills, while they have a New World influence, were honed by working for Giacomo Tachis, the godfather of Italian winemaking consultants. Rich apricot and exotic fruit mix, this is a fascinating dessert wine. Using late-harvested Grillo grapes, it has that all-important balance between sweetness and acidity.

To try any of these wines, visit The Lawns Restaurant at Thornton Hall, Thornton Hough, Wirral, CH63 1JF or call 0151 336 3938.

CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS IN STYLE AT THE MANOR • STYLISH DINING IN RELAXED SURROUNDINGS • THE FINEST FRESHLY PREPARED FOOD • LARGE PARTIES AND PRIVATE DINING • EXCELLENT BANQUETING FACILITIES

THE WARMEST OF WELCOMES AWAITS. BOOK NOW FOR THIS FESTIVE PERIOD ON 0151 677 7034.

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

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AUTUMNAL DELIGHTS

BY PAUL ASKEW, CHEF PATRON OF THE ART SCHOOL RESTAURANT Autumn is one of my favourite seasons. It won’t surprise Wirral Life readers to know that one of the things that gets me the most excited is good quality produce and the variety. This is absolutely the harvest festival time because the game has started, venison, partridge and it’s the fantastic beginnings of autumnal vegetable like Cavolo Nero, local corn, pumpkin and squash.

It’s simply a beautiful time of year, although we all love the summer, the autumnal air and changing of the seasons is a wonderful time for Chefs and dinners alike. We get to ring the changes on the menus – that brings a real excitement in the kitchen and in the restaurant as new dishes are added and you can really feel the excitement in the kitchen as they are developed.

Autumn is a great season for our wild food, partridge and venison have been on the menu for a couple of weeks and I’m expecting the first pheasant to arrive next week. As well as the game, it’s lovely to have the Romanesco cauliflower and small root vegetables to develop our vegetarian options too.

Obviously the changing of the seasons does mean some of the things we’ve really enjoyed working with are no longer available, so we’re coming to the end of some of the edible flowers and the amazing Hooton Watercress from that most loveable of characters, Peter Jones, at Wirral Watercress – it may mean he’s out of shorts and wellies too, so perhaps it’s not all bad.

At the moment my favourite dish of the season so far has to be the loin of Venison, or Red Deer. Which I did at a guest chef dinner in Stafford last week – I was very pleased with the reaction there and also in The Art School where it’s been on the menu for around the last 10 days.

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We take the loin, which is the equivalent of a sirloin from a cow, with Cavolo Nero, Girolles in truffle butter and fantastic pink fir apple potatoes with a little parmesan reduction and breadcrumbs. The sauce that goes over it is a game stock, made from venison bones, partridge bones and herbs, and it’s finished with a Damson puree, pink peppercorns which is quite punchy, there’s a little bit of port and red wine vinegar to add sharpness.

They really complement the sweetness of the venison, and to finish, my favourite vegetables to go with venison are parsnips.

The dish really sums up the Autumn for me and where our menus are going. It’s not just the game season that shapes Autumn, the fish is also seasonal so we’re moving from Turbot to Halibut and we’re seeing Monk Fish loins coming in and the end of the Liverpool Bay Sea Bass. The Scallops have been fantastic of late and we’re excited to have them on the menu.

They’ll also feature on the menu in the Art School Cellars, our new champagne and wine bar that recently opened and will see hot food served from the end of October in addition to our charcuterie, cheese and bread selection. The cellars also has a tutored tasting room, our tasting table has proved a hit on social media, the room itself is a sommelier led tasting experience, fine wines and champagnes paired with fresh local taster dishes.

I’ve tried to create something of capital city standard for the people of Wirral and the region to enjoy – a little closer to home.

As I write I’m on the eve of my last photoshoot for my debut book – “Onwards and Upwards” - it too captures the seasons and the very best local suppliers. Out in time for Christmas there’s a whole host of Art School dishes for you to recreate at home! Enjoy the bountiful harvest of Autumn – until next month.

TAPAS. AND THEN SOME.

At The Tapas Kitchen in West Kirby, we are ridiculously passionate about food and drink. For us, it’s all about the flavours. Our team has created a unique sumptuous menu with our own special twist on some of Spain’s finest classics alongside an inspired drinks menu to truly stimulate all the senses.

THE TAPAS KITCHEN 95 BANKS ROAD, WEST KIRBY, WIRRAL CH48 0RB TEL: 0151 625 8111 www.thetapaskitchen.co.uk

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No.1 MOSTYN SQUARE

by Karen Booth & Si Hall

Situated in the picturesque and bustling village of Parkgate, No.1 Mostyn Square is located at the former site of ‘ The Marsh Cat’. The restaurant commands an impressive location with panoramic views across The River Dee and to North Wales. With a comfortable and stylish New England feel and charming use of locally reclaimed driftwood, the venue is warm, airy and welcoming. No. 1 Mostyn Square offers diners a modern a la carte menu.

generously sized portions of beautifully cooked scallops, king prawn and monk fish. Accompanied with jasmine Thai rice and a delicious coconut and herb Thai inspired curry. The entire dish packed a punch from all corners! Superb. Next up was a classic ‘Supreme of Chicken’ with a mushroom duxelle and wrapped in Parma ham. The dish was cooked well with moist, succulent chicken, a smooth duxelle, accompanied with a mushroom and red wine jus, sage and onion mash. Lovely.

With a very warm welcome from Restaurant Manager - Kayla Stevenson and Head Chef - Paul Pegram, we were seated at a window table with impressive views. Taking Kayla’s wine recommendation, we opted for an Italian White - Di Gavi - La Caplana - Piedmont - Italy. A wonderfully zesty and lime driven wine made from the Cortese grape. A great wine to marry with our canapés and starters. To begin… we were presented with a selection of canapés - king prawn with avocado served on a puffed crouton with lemon zest, Cajun griddled king prawn with a creole inspired dipping sauce – bruschetta with roasted vegetables, crumbled goats cheese and fresh herbs – tomato, cream cheese and chive mini tartlets –delicate, light and delicious.

From the grill menu we opted for the fillet steak. Served charred, this was so impressive - an absolutely huge steak! (See pics). Perfectly pink, tender and well-seasoned, simply accompanied with griddled tomato, field mushroom and a side of crispy sweet potato fries. - perfect. For our ‘steak’ wine pairing, we sampled a Pinot Noir Reserve - Panilonco Colchagua Valley – Chile and a Malbec ‘Aruma’ - Mendoza – Argentina.

Both great individual tasting wines. Feeling sated and verging on ‘full’… we then had shall we say our ‘ little fingers’ twisted and tempted very easily to indulge in two naughty indulgent desserts… firstly… a delicious warm chocolate brownie, soft and moist with a crispy top layer, accompanied by ‘Nicholls of Parkgate’ choc mint ice cream and a warm chocolate sauce… you get the picture… followed by a delicious meringue with a crunch on the outside and slightly chewy on the inside,served with ‘Nicholls of Parkgate’ - banana and chocolate ice cream, Chantilly cream, toffee sauce and fresh raspberries… Both desserts being delicious and a great finale to our lovely dining experience.

For starters, we sampled the dry cured house trout served with house pickles, vinaigrette dressing and finished with wholegrain mustard seeds. The trout was delicate in texture, gently smoked and served with perfect accompaniments. Followed by the seriously good scallops with black pudding, crispy pancetta and a Bloody Mary sauce. Our final starter was the smoked duck salad. Tender, juicy pink and delicately smoked duck breast, served with a baby leaf salad, raspberry infused vinaigrette. Fantastic. To accompany ‘three’ of our ‘four’ main dishes we sampled the Giddy Goose – a lovely white, green and flinty Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough region of New Zealand and a French Rose - Les Olivier’s - Chateau de Berne - Cotes de Provence - an incredibly elegant and delicate dry pink dry, light and refreshing on the palate.

Both brilliant and affordable wines. First of the mains to the table was the Gnocchi… usually served a side dish this was an incredibly tasty and satisfying main dish which was served with a silky and smooth mushroom and garlic sauce, herb crust and fresh parmesan. Delicious.

To follow was the ‘house’ favourite, the ‘Seafood Thailandaise’. Incredibly 42 wirrallife.com

No. 1 Mostyn Square offers affordable and relaxed dining, matched with great food, attentive friendly staff - suitable for the entire family. Open seven days a week, serving a great brunch menu at the weekend, the restaurant offers mid-week dining deals and a forty seat function suite in the upstairs restaurant section for hire.

In summary: Excellent hospitality and genuinely sumptuous dishes.

Highly recommended!

Booking is advisable. Telephone: 0151 336 1963

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HISPI

by Carl Housbey

I know that many Wirral Life readers are frequent visitors to Chef Gary Ushers restaurants, Sticky Walnut near Chester, and Burnt Truffle in Heswall, but I wonder how many of you have ventured out to Didsbury to eat at his third restaurant, Hispi.

Luckily for you, I have been several times and will now tell you all about it.

When you arrive at Hispi you will immediately experience that familiar relaxed, almost laid-back atmosphere, that seems to be a signature of Gary’s restaurants, where the staff have that amazing ability to provide really friendly service but still remain slick and professional at the same time.

The menu changes regularly, but there are a couple of items that remain constant, such as the freshly baked rye bread with Lincolnshire poacher butter, and the beer battered salt pickles with parsley and tarragon mayo. I suggest you order a plate of each straight away so that you’ve something to nibble on whilst reading the menu.

On my last visit, I opted for Burrata with charred carrot, smoked garlic, honey, and puffed rice for my starter. This was an excellent choice as the complex flavours created by charring the carrot combined together with the smoky garlic to offset the cool creaminess of the Burrata, and the puffed rice provided a delightful crunch to each bite.

Mrs Gastro Grazer was in the mood for fish, so she started with cured sea trout, apple, kohlrabi, crème fraiche and fennel pollen, which of course I just had to try, and found that the tart apple and crème fraiche cut through the natural oiliness of the trout to leave my palate refreshed and eager for another 44 wirrallife.com

mouthful. Her main course was pan fried sea bream, white chicory and lardo, with a fish head sauce that had an amazing depth of flavour and complemented the sea bream perfectly.

My main course of braised featherblade with truffle and Parmesan chips is one that makes a regular appearance on the menu due to it being a favourite for many people, myself included. The long slow braising makes the meat so tender that it almost falls apart just by looking at it, and the fat and juices melt together to create a wonderfully sticky sauce that leaves you smacking your lips with joy.

I couldn’t manage to choose just one dessert, so I went for two of them. The first was the banana loaf with caramel ice cream, as it reminds me of sticky toffee pudding which is one of my all-time favourites, and I was not disappointed, the loaf was moist and fluffy, whilst the sauce was rich and buttery with that sweet saltiness of all good caramels. I just about had enough room to squeeze in the hazelnut praline, with almond meringue and sherry cream but only because the meringue was as light as a feather.

By the time you read this Gary Usher will almost be ready to open his fourth restaurant Wreckfish, in Liverpool. Obviously, I am going to have plan a visit there as soon as possible, and then tell you about it in a forthcoming issue as these are the kinds of sacrifices I make for our readers.

In the meantime, to book a table at Hispi, visit www.hispi.net or telephone 0161 445 3996.

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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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PERFECT HOMES FOR GROWING FAMILIES AVAILABLE NOW AT UPTON PINES Families looking for the perfect new home on the Wirral can take advantage of the latest phase of homes at Upton Pines, available to buy off-plan now.

Award-winning housebuilder, Stewart Milne Homes, has released the next collection of homes at the popular development just half a mile from the village of Upton.

Buyers can now choose from several new detached homes which includes both four and five-bedroom designs – perfect to meet the needs of growing families.

Upton Pines is a collection of 180 residences comprising 33 apartments and 147, two, three, four and five-bedroom homes. The homes at Upton Pines are part of Stewart Milne’s exclusive Woodlands collection and offer a choice of spacious family homes, finished to the highest standard, with great attention to detail throughout. There will be a choice of eleven detached house designs to choose from including the popular four-bedroom Hollandswood and the spacious five-bedroom Heddon, which is the largest home in the collection. Potential buyers can take a look around the stunning Heddon showhome which is now open for viewing, alongside three other beautiful home designs.

A well-appointed five-bedroom villa, Heddon has a large lounge with doors leading to a separate dining room. The

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kitchen has been designed to function as a breakfast/family room and comes complete with premium appliances and French doors leading to the rear garden. Upstairs there are five bedrooms leading from the hallway, two of which have built in wardrobes and en-suite facilities. Finally, there is a family-sized bathroom with vanity units.

Lynne Vogel, Sales Manager, Stewart Milne Homes North West, said: “Upton Pines has been one of our most popular developments in the North West and we’ve been inundated with interest and sales since we launched 12 months ago. The release of these new detached homes are much anticipated. We expect them to be hugely popular with people looking to purchase a high-quality new home, in a sought-after location, just 20 minutes from the city centre.”

Prices for the new detached homes at Upton Pines start from £269,950 - £394,950. Stewart Milne Homes is offering a range of schemes, to make owning your dream home as easy as possible. These include the popular Help to Buy Scheme, backed by the Government which allows buyers to purchase their new home with just a five percent deposit.

To find out more about the range of homes available at Upton Pines or to arrange a visit to one of the showhomes contact: 0845 026 7909 or visit: stewartmilnehomes.com.

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Marketing suite open Marketing Marketing Marketing Marketing suite suite suite open suite open open open Thursday to Monday 10.00am to 5.00pm

We are proud to be awarded

5 Star Home Builder

We are proud We are to be proud awarded We are to be proud awarded to be awarded We are proud to be awarded

5 Star5 Home Star5Home Builder Star Home Builder 5 Star Builder Home Builder in the HBF annual consumer survey 2017

Thursday Thursday Thursday to Thursday Monday totoMonday Monday 10.00am to Monday 10.00am 10.00am to 5.00pm 10.00am to to5.00pm 5.00pm to 5.00pm uptonpines@stewartmilne.com uptonpines@stewartmilne.com uptonpines@stewartmilne.com uptonpines@stewartmilne.com uptonpines@stewartmilne.com

in the HBF in annual the HBF consumer inannual the HBF survey consumer annual 2017 consumer insurvey the HBF 2017 survey annual 2017 consumer survey 2017

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

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BEST PROPERTIES EDITOR’S CHOICE

The Lydiate, Willaston ÂŁ875,000 Here is an impressive four bedroom family home created from the conversion of the stables and Coach House to The Lydiate, previously a large country house which is now sub-divided into apartments. The property now forms part of the exclusive Lydiate development which comprises 16 dwellings occupying a peaceful location surrounded by its own private gardens together with approximately 11 acres of communal parkland.

Constructed predominately of sandstone under a slate roof with central and off-set gables, The Stables provides spacious and superbly appointed accommodation arranged over 2 floors, in all extending to over 3300 square foot following substantial alterations and an extension completed in 2013. The front door opens to an impressive entrance hall with an oak floor and central staircase rising to a galleried landing. A pair of double doors open into the lounge which provides a formal entertaining area again with oak floor and minister style fireplace housing a gas burner. The lounge has twin aspects both to the front and rear of the house and contains various fitted oak units by Rothwell Thomas. The lounge also benefits from double French windows that lead out onto the courtyard.

The Estate in general has attractive blocks of woodlands and formal gardens with a circular woodland walk around the site. There is also an all weather tennis court and paddock which is down to grass and suitable for grazing horses or livestock. Both of these are for the shared use of the residents.

Contact Constables for more information on 0151 353 1333.

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Chester Road, Gayton ÂŁ630,000 This stunning five bedroom, detached family home is located in a sought after part of Gayton. Boasting an enviable plot and gardens - this property has been tastefully remodelled by the vendors to ensure it offers luxury accommodation throughout.

It affords five bedrooms, three reception rooms, a breakfast kitchen, two bathrooms and a W.C, a Work-Shop, Integral garage and a brick built detached sun-room with a stylish hot tub. The property is ideally suited towards families and the work-shop could be readily used for an office/gym ideal for those who want to work from home as it also features a separate entrance, it could also be reconfigured into an annex for an elderly relative or teenage child wanting their independent living space; making it one of the most versatile properties on the Heswall market currently.

The property offers a fantastic amount of living space and has been upgraded to such an extent that there is very little room for improvement. The Agents thoroughly recommend buyers book a viewing as the photographs barely do the property justice in this instance.

Contact Constables for more information on 0151 353 1333.

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Chester High Road, Burton ÂŁ425,000 This beautiful property has been kept to a very high standard by the current owners and cannot be fully appreciated until viewing this home.

Briefly, the property comprises of an entrance hallway; lounge; dining room and fitted kitchen to the ground floor with three double bedrooms; two bathrooms and a separate W.C to the first floor.

Externally, the property occupies a good-sized plot, set in beautiful gardens to the rear and front.

The attractive resin driveway offers ample parking and there is a garage with electric and water connected. The property has an alarm system.

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

HOW SECURE IS YOUR HOME AND BUSINESS?

Copeland Group Services is a trusted provider of quality Security and Facilities Management services throughout the UK. Copeland has a wealth of industry experience working with an impressive client portfolio of leading organisations providing quality driven Security, CCTV, Remote Monitoring and Facilities Management services nationally. Our integrated and tailored approach to Security and Facilities Management, combined with a proven track record of achieving consistently high standards, ensures a truly comprehensive and customer focused service across all three divisions supported around the clock by our 24 Hour National Support Centre.

Call our team today to find out how we can secure your home and business

Tel: 0800 955 4414 (24 HR National Support Centre) www.copelandgroupservices.com

Experience real relaxation in one of our bathrooms & wetrooms.

We explore the world to source beautiful and innovative collections and solutions that offer a fresh perspective on quality. Our passion for perfection spans over 20 years and every bathroom and wetroom we create and install comes with complete peace of mind.

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North Wirral 6-8 Prenton Road West, Prenton Wirral CH42 9PN t: 0151 608 4008 e: sales@bathroomsandwetrooms.com w: bathroomsandwetrooms.com

Chester 125 Long Lane, Upton-by-Chester, Cheshire CH2 1JF t: 01244 381038 e: sales@chesterbathroomsandwetrooms.com w: chesterbathroomsandwetrooms.com

INTERIOR INSPIRATION

BY KATE KINGSTON

Kate Kingston, Managing Director of Kingston Shaw, an interior design company with offices on the Wirral, London and Dubai, shares with us the latest trends for creating the perfect home.

BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS A GUIDE TO INVESTING IN A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP We at Kingston Shaw are suffering from a little jet lag due to our recent travels over the Pond. Whilst we were away we sampled the delights of several hotels and their mattresses but nothing beats the feeling of coming home and crawling into our own beds and hunkering down to some seriously dysfunctional slumber. My bed is an important part of the collection of my belongings and I will admit it took extensive research and deliberation to pick out the perfect bed and mattress, and I will wager the same is true for you?

Did you know that having the right mattress will reduce swelling, aches and pains and allergies too? And what makes a perfect bed, well that’s easy it is the combination of aesthetic and comfort and for me crisp, cool Frette Linen!

There are a vast variety of manufactures that offer every type of mattress, some even designed by NASA. You can spend up from £299 - £50,000 and choose to sleep on memory foam, latex, or even mink filled mattresses. Here are our tips for a perfect fit: 1. Choose your Budget What is the maximum you can afford to spend? This is one area where the more you spend the better the quality, don’t skimp.

2. Decide what kind of mattress you need • Hybrid • Latex • Memory Foam • Coil • Pillow Top • Adjustable 3. Speak to a reputable mattress expert to ensure that the mattress you choose is right for your body, mind and pocket 4. What firmness do you require?

5. Hunt in Pairs Make sure that you take the person you are sharing your bed with to test it out with you! Ensure that your base is equipped to deal with your mattress and is suitable.

Our Top Five Mattress Manufactures • Savoir Beds www.savoirbeds.co.uk • Vispring www.vispring.com • Tempur www.tempur.com • John Lewis Natural Collection www.johnlewis.com • Top Dog mattress www.loaf.com In summary, there will be no better way to invest in your wellbeing than purchasing the perfect mattress. Here’s to no bumps in the night this Halloween and good quality rest whether you are wicked or not!

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HOT S TUFF HOT S S STOV T U FE F SHOWROOM

S TOV E S SHOWROOM

ELECTRIC DESIGNER DE LREECAT M SC SD ETSOI GVNEE SR R I DISCOVER THE ULTIMATE RANGE

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The ESSE 990 EL is the 13Amp electric cast iron range cooker with dual hob, featuring cast iron hotplate and induction zone. in Stoves 20 colours, it has ‘surround elements’ evenshowroom. oven AtAvailable Hot Stuff in Hoylake - we have a truly for unique andcollection a full-width This little gem istemperatures home to a vast of grill. both contemporary and Control your electricity bill) by setting thecooker main The ESSE 990cooking EL is the(and 13Amp electric cast iron range traditional stoves, displayed within carefully designed sets to offer you ovens at the temperature you choose,and forinduction roasting, zone. with dual hob, featuring cast iron hotplate an array of fabulous ideas for your home.

Alongside stoves, we also simmering or slow cooking. the Available in 20baking, colours, it has ‘surround elements’ for even oven have the full range of Esse cookers available including gas, electric 990 EL features a third ‘slow and all controls are temperatures and aoven’ full-width grill. and solid fuel.

We are renowned fortimeless our bespoke installations in many neatly concealed, to give that traditional range Control your cooking (and electricity bill) by setting the main cooker A appearance. prestige ovens bars and restaurants. full is for available from the Hetas at the temperature youservice choose, roasting, baking, simmering slow cooking. and Gas Safe installers, who offer aorfree survey to advise and quote on 990 EL a third ‘slow oven’isand controls are but our all aspects of features heating options.

Not only our all work exceptional, neatly to givetothat timeless range attention to concealed, detail is second none, this istraditional evident from the second cooker appearance.

HOT STUFF STOVES

STOVES

The KC 100 Designer Stove is the latest addition to the ESSE family of wonderful wood-burners, glorious gas stoves and stoves from ESSE. you step into Hot Stuffmulti-fuel Stoves. As well as the stunning variety of multi Like all ESSE stoves, the 100 KC has a rich fuel and gas stoves, our Aladdin’s cave houses anheritage eclecticand mix was of local created with the benefit of 162 years’ stove-building experience.

The artisan KC 100 Designer Stove is the latest addition to the ESSE handmade wares along with bespoke one-off pieces from all Visit the Hot Stuff Showrooms to explore the complete collection family of wonderful wood-burners, glorious gas stoves and over theofworld.

FromESSE fires to furniture and gifts, visit to Hot Stuff hand-built stoves.

We also offer aabeautiful range of will multi-fuel stoves from ESSE. inspire you. The vastaccessories knowledge,including advice and help available from our stove companion sets, Like all ESSE stoves, the 100 KC has a rich heritage and was log baskets, coal logstove-building stores and stove showroom is with always and free.

With new stock arriving weekly created thefriendly benefit ofbuckets, 162 years’ experience. cleaning products. and our freeShowrooms Christmas to and cooking offering great Visitupcoming the Hot Stuff explore the events complete collection of hand-built ESSE also offer a beautiful rangeinoffor a discounts in November, bestoves. sure toWe contact us to book yourself including night of festive stove treatsaccessories on 0151 632 1610. companion sets, log baskets, coal buckets, log stores and stove cleaning products.

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TO BOOK YOUR FREE PLACE AT OUR SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EVENT ON STUNNING MONDAY 13TH NOVEMBER 0151WARM 632 1610 VISIT OUR SHOWROOM FOR CALL A 92TRULY WELCOME Market St, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 3BD.

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VISIT OUR STUNNING SHOWROOM FOR A TRULY WARM WELCOME Hot Stuff Stoves • 92 Market St. Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 3BD • 0151 632 1610 • www.hotstuffstoves.com

AW17

BY BARBOUR

BARBOUR RYDAL JACKET £199.00 WWW.BARBOUR.COM

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W FASHION L BARBOUR CLASSIC WAX JACKETS FROM £199 WWW.BARBOUR.COM

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BARBOUR DEVON JACKET £159.00 WWW.BARBOUR.COM

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BARBOUR THIRKLEBY JACKET £299.00 WWW.BARBOUR.COM

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BARBOUR EDNA OVERSHIRT £149.00 WWW.BARBOUR.COM

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Heswall, Telegraph Road: 0151 342 1002 Liverpool, Castle Street: 0151 227 2366 www.andrewcolinge.com andrewcollingeuk andrew_collinge andrew_collinge

5511_AndrewCollingeAssets_WirrelLife.indd 1

24/05/2017 16:41

W BEAUTY L

AUTUMN BEAUTY

by Annabel Birtles & Katie Hayes As summer fades into autumn, the summer blues begin and we all start to reminisce about those warm nights spent sipping cocktails and listening to the sound of the ocean in the near distance. However, as we look back we are also guilty of forgetting to focus on the now and how the change in weather can affect our delicate skin. So, this month, in order to keep our readers glowing even in the crisp winter air, we have brought you our top skincare products so you can feel tropical even as the season fades. See you next month! – Love Katie and Annabel x

CLINIQUE 3 STEP INTRO KIT TYPE 2 £20 As your skin dries out pre-winter months it is important to make sure it stays refreshed and hydrated at every possible moment to avoid falling into the trap of dry and flaky patches blotched across your face. Clinique’s 3 Step Intro Kit is a favourite of ours as it combines a trio of skincare treats to cleanse, exfoliate, and moisturise dry, combination skin. The set contains Liquid Face Wash, Clarifying lotion and Dramatically Different Moisturising lotion.

All three work together to complement each other in a skin care routine to rely on. Each product works gently upon your skin to ensure your skin is ready to tackle the cold, even if you aren’t just yet.

KATE HAYES MOTHER OF PEARL HIGHLIGHTER £17.50 For this product we are going directly to Katie herself. Ladies, no matter the time of year you must never forget the ultimate makeup essential – highlighter. No look is ever complete without that added glow and shine applied perfectly upon your makeup. Katie Hayes’ own Mother of Pearl highlighter is a UK top seller with customers ranging from across the UK in desperation to get their hands upon this often sold out product. The creamy texture offers flawless dewy illumination and comes widely recommended by clientele across the board. Packaged perfectly within an easy to use application bottle, this highlighter will complete any look and will make you shine even if the sun does not.

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TATCHA LUMINOUS DEWY SKIN MIST £60 Earlier this year, Katie had the most amazing opportunity to live every makeup artists dream and attended a ‘Divine’ masterclass by celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic which featured Kim Kardashian as the model. From this, Katie has been able to employ some tips which means they can come straight from her to you. Tatcha skin mist is a product favourite from Mario and will keep skin glowing even on the bleakest days. Botanical oils give skin that ultimate dewy and glossy look whilst the hyaluronic acid attracts moisture to ensure your makeup glides on effortlessly for a flawless finish. This product makes for light and easy application in a sprayable bottle meaning perfection can be achieved wherever needed.

BONDI SANDS SELF TAN ERASER £14.99 It’s no secret girls that now our natural tans are fading, along with the memories from summer, that we will all begin to top up our tan from our favourite little bronzed bottle. However, no one enjoys the endless scrubbing required to remove said tan so we have picked out the revolutionary self-tan eraser from Bondi Sands to share with you all. This product effectively removes the false tan without harmful ingredients or exfoliation whilst moisturising and softening the skin, leaving it replenished and smooth for your next ‘mitt’ application.

MAC VANILLA LIP SCRUBTIOUS £12.50 To keep your lips smooth and hydrated in the cold month’s, MAC’s new sugar-based lip scrubtious rub is the ultimate pucker product. With an enhanced exfoliating formula, your dry and chapped skin will be glossed away leaving your lips enriched with conditioning nourishments. This lip rub is available in 5 flavours but our firm favourite is the sweetened taste of vanilla to give you that last touch of summer throughout your autumn day.

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

1 4

2 3

1: Non Surgical Blepharoplasty 2: Crow’s feet 3: Fine lines 4: Tear troughs

It’s all about the eyes Far and away the most common concern clients have as they get older is the wrinkles, hollows, saggy skin and crepiness under the eyes. The skin here is extremely delicate and thins rapidly as we age.

1: Non- surgical Blepharoplasty – Suffering with excess skin on upper and lower eyelids need not be a cause for surgery. Using the latest plasma technology, PLexR soft surgery erases the excess skin without the need for cutting or stitching.

2: Crow’s feet – Wrinkles around the sides of the eyes can be softened with the use of Botulinum toxin A. The treatment is customised to your needs and works well with forehead and frown line treatment.

3: Fine lines – We can address the skin around the eye area using radio frequency skin tightening.

This encourages new collagen and elastin to form (a course is recommended).

4: Tear troughs - Dark circles and tired appearance? By making a simple correction to this area using dermal fillers, you can be restored to your youthful looking self.

These treatments 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

www.sdsrejuvenate.co.uk

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BREAST CANCER WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

BY DR ALLISON HALL, CLATTERBRIDGE PRIVATE CLINIC Dr Allison Hall is an experienced consultant in clinical oncology, specialising in breast cancer at Clatterbridge Private Clinic, a purpose-build, modern centre in Wirral which provides private cancer treatment for patients from the region, and further afield. Here, Dr Hall talks to us about breast cancer, what you need to know about the disease, the signs to look out for and the latest treatment options.

Of course, no one wants to think about themselves or a family member getting ill, but with breast cancer still the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK, it’s important to not only understand the signs and symptoms, but to also to be aware of the choices available for treatment in the region.

Usually breast cancer patients are given the option of treatment after a referral by their breast surgeon. At Clatterbridge Private Clinic, patients then meet with a team of experts, including an Oncologist, who will decide upon the most appropriate course of treatment. From then on, patients are treated by the same small specialist team in the same familiar environment each time, making the experience as stress free as possible.”

What are the treatment options for breast cancer?

Breast cancer can affect both women and men. According to statistics from cancer research, over 55,000 new cases are diagnosed in women every year. It is rarer in men, with 389 cases per year. But although breast cancer is common, it is also very treatable if caught early.

Improved screening procedures, wider awareness and continuing advancements in treatment mean that survival rates are at their highest.

Breast cancer is one of the most researched cancer types and treatments are constantly evolving. It is no longer regarded as one single disease, rather a number of different types. Better understanding and advancements in areas such as precision medicine, where genetic information is used to both diagnose a cancer and to determine treatment, are enabling doctors to tailor treatment pathways to an individual’s unique needs and deliver personalised cancer care.

Treatment for breast cancer usually involves surgery first, followed by chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Modern surgical techniques mean that the breast can be conserved or reconstructed. Many patients are given hormonal and some biological treatment or, if suitable, enrolled on clinical trials. Even in the unfortunate case where cancer has already spread to other organs (secondaries), there are many treatment options available, depending on the type of cancer and the extent to which it has spread. At Clatterbridge Private Clinic, the treatment you receive will be based on what is best for you and we are always looking at the 68 wirrallife.com

latest treatment options. For example, by using the most up to date radiotherapy techniques we are now able to complete all breast cancer radiotherapy treatment within a three-week period.

What should people be aware of when it comes to breast cancer?

The earlier any cancer is diagnosed, the better the outlook for the patient. In the UK every woman between the ages of 50 and 70 is invited to have a mammogram every three years. However, I have treated a number of cases of women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, so self-examination and awareness should not only become a priority as you get older. All women and men need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, to know what is normal for them and to seek medical help if there are any changes. The most recognised of these is a lump in the breast or the armpit. But lumps in the neck can also occur. Other symptoms include: • • • • •

Changes in breast size or shape Dimpling of the skin or thickening of the breast tissue A nipple that turns in An eczema-like rash on the nipple Discharge or bleeding from the nipple

Whilst you should be aware of your family medical history, contrary to popular belief, the majority of breast cancer patients do not actually have a family history of the disease. In fact, it is still difficult to determine why one person develops breast cancer over another, although there are a number of recognised risk factors. Lifestyle and hormonal factors can have an impact, including being overweight, high alcohol intake, physical inactivity, starting your periods early, late menopause, not having children or having them later in life. Taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and the contraceptive pill are also known to increase the risk.

How can patients access private treatment with Clatterbridge Private Clinic?

Choice is a fundamental part of any cancer treatment. If you’ve recently been diagnosed, deciding where you want to receive your care can be a complex process. Your consultant will help you to explain some of the benefits private cancer care can offer. At Clatterbridge Private Clinic, we provide private patients with rapid access to the latest treatments and technologies – all delivered in surroundings, which have been purposely designed to ensure patients are as comfortable and relaxed as possible the minute they walk through the door.

Please contact us directly if you would like further information about treatment for breast or other cancers. Clatterbridge Private Clinic, 0151 556 5391 www.clatterbridgeprivate.co.uk/

Exceptional, personalised private cancer care in the heart of Wirral

A state-of-the-art centre, providing a leading service and exceptional cancer care.

Our expert consultants deliver integrated and personalised care to patients, tailored around their needs, circumstances and commitments. At Clatterbridge Private Clinic, patients have access to the most advanced treatments, technology and diagnostic equipment, including Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, Proton beam therapy for eye cancer and the Papillon technique for early stage colorectal cancer.

Clatterbridge Private Clinic is a joint venture between The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, one of the UK’s leading cancer centres, and Mater Private Health.

For further information about private treatment at Clatterbridge Private Clinic please contact the Patient Liaison Team on 0151 556 5391 or visit clatterbridgeprivate.co.uk

0151 556 5391 Clatterbridge Private Clinic

clatterbridgeprivate.co.uk Clatterbridge Road | Bebington | Wirral, | CH63 4JY

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GREAT BRITAIN

BY RICHARD GIBSON

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

Out and about in the car the other day, my 4-year-old was humming a tune to himself. “What song are you humming?”

I asked, “the National Anthem!” came the reply. I was a little shocked – usually the reply would be Paw Patrol or some little ditty he’d made up about his big brother. He went on to tell me that they were having a special day at school to celebrate Great Britain and had been learning about some important British people, their achievements, our foods, culture and traditions.

This led me to think about the National Health Service – once the envy of the World, but all we hear about in the press are its trials and tribulations.

I probably have as much to do with the NHS as anyone – my mum and mother-in-law are nurses, my sister, father-in-law and sisterin law are doctors and I’m married to a dentist all of whom have worked and most of whom still work within the NHS. On top of that I have 2 boys and so have tested the emergency departments on the odd occasion! My job gives me the ability to work within a large NHS Trust and provide a specialist local service to the community from my practice in Wallasey. Is the NHS perfect?... No, I’m not naïve, but it does deliver a fantastic service in the face of significant adversity. Take dentistry for example, albeit a fairly blunt tool, but the NHS friends and family questionnaire, is the biggest feedback mechanism the NHS has ever seen – 97% of responses said they would be likely or extremely likely to recommend their dentist.

In Orthodontics, the majority of treatment provided in the UK is carried out in Specialist Practice by Specialist Orthodontists and their teams but there is also some provision within certain hospitals. This allows for training future generations and providing multidisciplinary care, along with other departments, for people with more complex problems for example mismatches of the jaws, people born without all their teeth, the rehabilitation of cancer patients, patients with cleft lip and palate, those born with syndromes 70 wirrallife.com

affecting the face and teeth and those with needs requiring hospital team working. There are strict guidelines in place for the provision of NHS orthodontic treatment that are benchmarked with 2 national scales; the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) and the Index of Functional Treatment Need (IOFTN) (see the British Orthodontic Society’s page www.bos.org.uk for more information).

As implied in the title, the IOTN attempts to measure an individual’s need for treatment and identify those who will benefit the most.

It looks at specific dental features and the overall appearance to generate a dental and aesthetic score. A line in the sand is drawn at a specific point on the scale and people who score above it qualify for treatment on the NHS, as long as; they are motivated for care, have no active dental disease, excellent oral hygiene and haven’t had full treatment in the past. This line in the sand means that some people, who may have their own concerns about their teeth, will fall beneath the threshold. This does not rule out treatment but any orthodontics provided would need to be done on a private basis. Sometimes the balance of risk and benefit is tipped in favour of no treatment being the best solution. The other consideration is age. The pot of money is only so big and it certainly isn’t growing and so age restrictions do apply when accessing NHS orthodontic treatment.

In most of the World, orthodontics is exclusively a private treatment option and this means that when most of the World look at Great Britain – I suspect that they still do look with an envious eye at the service our taxes help to fund. We can sleep safe with the knowledge that we no longer need to be known as a country of bad teeth and horrendous smiles – with NHS and private treatment we have all the bases covered!

For more information on the types of treatment we offer or the results we can achieve, please visit www.wallaseyorthodontics.co.uk or the British Orthodontic Society’s page www.bos.org.uk which has great sections for adults and children alike.

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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HARD TIMES AND THE BIRTH OF A LEGEND

BY ANDREW WOOD In the early 19th century, one commentator who had visited the Denhall coal mine near Ness, said that it was the most miserable and desolate place he had ever seen. Not only men but whole families, including small children, went underground for a few pence a day. Not surprisingly, they also lived in squalid cottages which were alive with vermin and insects. Of all the people who worked in the coliery at Denhall, Wirral’s first coal mine, the man who comes closest to fame is one Henry Lyon, but we will leave his story until later.

Some small scale extraction of coal in Wirral was recorded from as early as the 17th century, but commercial mining did not begin until the 1700’s. Ness was nothing more than a small farming hamlet until the Stanleys of Hooton opened the Denna (Denhall) Colliery in 1760, to extract coal from a seam which ran out under the Dee towards Flintshire. (It was the same seam that was mined from a colliery at Point of Air on the Welsh side of the Dee.) The Denhall shaft was located a few metres from Denhall Quay, one of a succession of quays built as the Dee silted up, and coal was shipped from the quay to Chester and Liverpool. About two hundred yards (180 metres) north of the pit was the miners’ pub, the ‘Harp Inn’, which still offers a refreshing pint and a fine view over the Dee (and never a coal blackened face to be seen).

Working conditions even towards the end of the pit’s life were bad, but in the early years they were truly appalling, scarcely better than slave labour. Boys began work there as early as seven years of age, and everything was done using hands or feet. The Stanley family, the owners of the mine, living in the elegant splendour of Hooton Hall, six miles (9.6 km) away, probably knew little and cared less about the lives of the miners scraping out a miserable living on the bleak shore of the Dee. The coal seam was thin and, in this “History of the Hundred of Wirral”, William Mortimer describe how the poor quality coal was hauled to the bottom of the shaft in small boats along underground canals. Each boat carried four hundredweight (0.2 ton) of coal in baskets. Four or five of the boats would be roped together and then propelled along by a man lying on his back on the coal in the first boat.

He would push with his feet against the tunnel roof, a method similar to that used to propel narrowboats through tunnels on the canals, known as ‘legging’. Denhall colliery was closed round about 1855 when it became impossible to extract any more coal using such primitive and dangerous methods.

Perhaps at this point we should return to Henry Lyon. In 1764, he had married 21 year old Mary Kidd who came from Hawarden, and they moved into Smith’s Cottage (which still exists) near the road to Denhall, in Neston Road, Ness. Henry worked at Denhall Colliery, although he also worked as the village blacksmith. The small house was one of a number of similar cottages that belonged to the Stanleys.

It was a hard life and Henry no doubt suffered from ill health like most of the miners, although least some of his working time was spent above ground. Even men of twenty were bent by the backbreaking work within a few years of starting work. They had to crouch in muddy, icy water and hack at the sides of the flooded levels. Others died, poisoned by pockets of methane or killed by rock falls underground. Henry 72 wirrallife.com

and Mary’s daughter, Amy, was born on Friday 26th April 1765. Her prospects were not good, her life promised to be poor and short.

Two months after she was baptised, he father died suddenly. He was buried in the churchyard of St Mary and St Helen, the parish church of Neston. No cause of death is recorded for Henry Lyon and his grave is unmarked. Of course, the life expectancy of men who worked as miners was short, although deaths from respiratory diseases could be agonising and long drawn out. But there is no record of an accident at Denhall, or of an epidemic of any kind, in the spring or summer of 1765. Mary did not receive a pension or compensation from the mine, which might have been the case if Henry had died at work there. The Lyons’ baby daughter seemed destined for a cruel and meagre life, backbreaking labour by the age of ten, a hard marriage and an early death.

With nothing to keep her in Ness, Mary took her daughter back to her family in Hawarden, where the air was clean and the living conditions not so desperately poor. In time Amy, who preferred to be known as Emma, rose far above her humble beginnings. Having moved to London, she met Charles Francis Greville, who installed her in his London home and provided her with music and drawing lessons. Greville unloaded Emma on his elderly widower uncle, Sir William Hamilton, in return for Hamilton making Greville his heir.

Emma duly married Sir William who was the British envoy to Naples from 1764 to 1800. In due time she achieved lasting notoriety as the mistress of Admiral Horatio Nelson. Mining began again, not far away from Denhall, at a new location in Little Neston in the middle of the 19th century. There is evidence that when William Lever built his soap works at Port Sunlight in 1888 at least some of the coal for the works was brought by rail from Little Neston. The coal owners were two brothers by the name of Platt, and the manager of the colliery was J S Taylor. Despite the fact that there were plenty of men who had worked at Denhall, they preferred to bring in skilled miners from North Wales, Lancashire and even Yorkshire rather than recruit locally. This influx from other mining areas probably accounts for the fact that Neston developed a dialect noticeably different from the rest of Wirral. Many mines up and down the country were forced to close in the slump of the 1920s and ‘30s. In an attempt to preserve mining on Wirral, attention turned to the defunct Denhall Colliery, in the hope that further reserves of coal could be found, two crews were lowered down the derelict shaft by a steam winch mounted on the back of a Sentinal steam wagon. They discovered that the canals, with arches cut through the coal, and some of the coal baskets and boats were still intact.

However, when the mine was reopened this exhausting and hazardous system was replaced by ponies pulling tubs along on rails. Coal of poor quality was extracted for a short while before both the Little Neston and Denhall mines were finally abandoned in 1928. The shafts were sealed off, equipment was removed and the ponies, as well as the Shire horses which had delivered coal in the area were sold.

Today, the visible remains of Wirral’s coal industry are the gorse- and grass-covered spoil heaps of the old collieries, one street of miners’ terraced houses (New Street) and the Harp Inn, which last served a working miner ninety or more years ago. The inn has a number of framed photographs of the mines and those who worked there.

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WINTER SKI 17/18 ANOTHER COOL SIDE TO JAPAN Japan enjoys an almost guaranteed supply of first-class powder that falls on the mountains of its main islands, Honshu and Hokkaido, offering exciting on-piste and back-country conditions for beginners and experts alike.

As a result, the Winter Olympics have been to Japan a number of times. Couple these top-class skiing conditions with a fascinating culture, exquisite food, hot springs to soothe weary limbs, friendly people and efficient Bullet Train transport within Japan, and the whole experience adds up to a truly memorable winter sports holiday.

Five reasons to ski and board in Japan: Perfect snow and plenty of mountains Deep powder is more the norm than a snow-blind myth here. An abundance of the white stuff on Honshu and Hokkaido make Japan a skier and boarder’s dream.

Hokkaido’s resort of Niseko and Hakuba on Honshu island are the snowy crown jewels but there are plenty of hidden gems throughout the country, with hundreds of smaller resorts to choose from.

Quiet slopes and night skiing Exchange the popular European Alps for the quieter Japanese Alps to get away from the crowds. Japan is 70% mountainous, with an abundance of snow-covered slopes in the winter, but there are no big lift queues or packed pistes here. If you want it even quieter, many resorts are open for night skiing with slopes lit up until late and the powder still deep.

Japanese culture and hospitality Although there’s almost guaranteed excellent quality snow in winter, ultimately it’s Japanese culture and the Japanese people that will propel your trip beyond any other ski experience according to InsideJapan Tours. Japan is unique, with an ultra-modern appearance blending with a strong sense of tradition wherever you go. Western visitors are welcome in Japan and the Japanese are eager to provide the very best hospitality whether you’re staying in a Western-style hotel, private lodge or traditional ryokan (guest house).

Hot springs with good, inexpensive food & drink A benefit of skiing in one of the world’s most volcanic countries is the hot spring baths (onsen). There’s nothing like soaking aching muscles in an onsen after a day on the slopes, in readiness for the next day. After a soak, refuel with excellent quality, inexpensive food, whether in a traditional lodge or local izakaya (Japanese pub), and the night out is always fun, friendly and lively.

Places to ski and places to see Winter in Japan is much more than perfect snow. If you want to take a powder break, you might also want to experience the culture and wildlife across the country.

From the excitement and bright lights of the Tokyo metropolis to the shrines, temples and geisha of Kyoto, and bathing snow monkeys in the mountains, there is plenty to see. It’s all easily accessible by Japan’s outstanding transport network - including the famous Bullet Train.

For more information visit www.insidejapantours.com

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IN BRIEF B&M WASTE SERVICES CONTINUE TO SUPPORT CLAIRE HOUSE

Wirral-based B&M Waste Services have continued to show their support to their nominated Wirral charity, Claire House Children’s Hospice through a series of challenges and volunteering throughout 2017.

The team cycled both the Liverpool to Chester Bike Ride and the gruelling 100 mile Ride London Challenge over the summer raising £2120. A group of willing B&M volunteers helped clear a mountain of rubbish out from the new development at the new Liverpool site being set up for Claire House. Battered and bruised the team meticulously volunteered and cleared an area to ensure it was safe and usable by those visiting Claire House in the future. And just recently a team of non-runners took part in the Splash Dash for the charity in Sefton Park, raising over £500, with sponsorship money still coming in from that.

Graham Curtis, Director at B&M Waste Services said: “Raising awareness of the fantastic work the charity does is something we’ve always tried to do. We’re proud to be associated with such an important charity, and have, for a number of year’s now helped raise awareness through promoting the charity on the side of our ‘big yellow trucks, as well as volunteering and taking part in challenges.

It’s so important to the children and families across the region to have the support in terms of not just respite but enjoying the time they have together, then of course end of life care too. We are genuinely immensely proud to work with Claire House, it’s such a special charity.”

NEW RECRUITS MARK EXPANSION FOR AUGER

Auger, the market-leading independent drainage and water supply pipe specialist, based on the Wirral, has taken on a team of new employees, expanding every part of the business.

The Wallasey company, which serves the UK-wide insurance industry, has made a significant investment into its business in recent months, with a move to a new £1.2million headquarters.

Now Auger has announced it has taken on eight new staff, both office and site-based, to continue its expansion plans. It is also currently recruiting for an additional 11 external engineers. Four water mains engineers have been recruited; Carl Clare, Stephen Shaw, Mark Shead and Peter Clark. Adam Lofthouse also joins as an assistant water mains engineer, with Alex Smith as an internal technician. Meanwhile, two account managers have joined the business – Tom Carter and Chris Simons.

The news comes just months after Auger previously announced six new recruits to its team as part of an expansion plan which aims to double the size of its claims department to more than 40 staff. Nicola Lyon, Auger’s head of recruitment and staff development, said: “As the business continues to grow, we are seeing a real need to recruit new team members – based both here at our headquarters and engineers who will spend their time on-site carrying out repairs for customers.

We are proud to be building an unrivalled direct labour force which can respond quickly across the UK and we’re planning to continue this growth for some time to come.”

APPLICATIONS FOR SHELL SPRINGBOARD ARE OPEN Applications for Shell Springboard are now open and close on Monday, November 6, 2017 at 5pm. A total funding amount of £350,000 will be available to six winning companies in 2018.

the use of your product/service) and indirect emissions (which occur when carbon emission savings can be associated with the use of your product/service but do not arise directly from its application). It does not have to be a technical discovery but your enterprise should have the potential to accelerate the transition to a low carbon economy.

You will be asked to describe how your project will lead to a reduction in direct emissions (which occur when carbon emissions are avoided by

For more information, visit www.shellspringboard.org.

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WIRRAL DIGITAL MEDIA FIRM WHITFIELD REPORTS RAPID SALES RISE

BESPOKE FUNDING PACKAGE HELPS ART SCHOOL CHAMPAGNE BAR LAUNCH GO WITH A FIZZ

Wirral digital media specialist Whitfield Business Support is reporting a 50pc sales rise in the last 12 months.

A bespoke financial package has helped an awardwinning Liverpool restaurateur’s latest venture go with a fizz.

The Heswall business which specialises in graphic design and marketing has driven sales by 54pc since September 2016 servicing more than 175 clients. The firm is run by co-directors Nik Ellis and Justine McLaughlin.

Justine said the firm is experiencing strong demand from start-ups to larger SMEs looking to outsource their entire design departments. The design outfit’s sales growth is also being matched by internal investment and several new recruits taking the total staff count to 12.

“After three years building our brand we have become established in the market place and continue to drive strong momentum,” said Justine. “In the last year we have ramped up project wins and there is much greater awareness of who we are, and what we do. While our specialism lies in social media, graphic design, website design and email marketing we can offer clients much more than that. Our senior management benefits from years of entrepreneurial experience, successfully running other multimillion pound businesses. We understand the challenges which come with running a business, and the passion, energy and dedication which is required to make it a success. We are able to match our client’s appetite to achieve the best possible results every step of the way. Most importantly, we use our combined total of more than 35 years of design experience so our clients can concentrate of delivering their own services. Our client base has broadened considerably over the last twelve months working with a large range of clients from start-ups to larger SMEs.” Nik said due to the increase in work Whitfield has been able to invest back into its team. The recently expanded outfit now includes three graphic designers, a web designer, marketing and communications manager, marketing assistant, business development manager and three first impressions coordinators. “We have invested in our design team so we can provide a variety of different styles of design to suit the varied needs of our client base,” said Nik. “Our team has created a strong bond quickly because we believe in making the workplace an enjoyable, creative and dynamic experience. We also invest in lots of events for our staff outside of work for team bonding which is essential for any creative environment. ” For more information of Whitfield Business Hub visit the website: www.whitfieldbusiness.co.uk or call 0151 342 0679.

Paul Askew, chief patron and founder of exclusive city centre eaterie The Art School, has opened a new champagne and wine bar, The Art School Cellars, in the basement of its Sugnall Street venue. This has created 11 jobs, and more will follow with the planned opening of a new private dining room. The new walk-in wine cellar and tasting room boasts the biggest range in the city, with up to 350 different wines and champagnes which Paul believes will make The Art School Cellars the perfect pre- and post-dinner or concert drinks venue in Liverpool. The bar offers a collection of cheeses and charcuterie and a private tasting room, seating 10 people and offering a wine and food-matching service, with accompanying sommeliers, for both the private and corporate markets. “We wanted to create something unique that Liverpool didn’t have,” he said. The inspiration for the new bar came from the Basque Country region and Northern Italy.

In San Sebastián bars you have beautiful pinchos on the bar that you can match up with a glass of wine. We have the warmth and hospitality in Liverpool, but maybe not the matching experience.This is capital city standard.”

Mr Askew worked with Gordon Andrews, managing director at West Kirby financial specialist Bathgate Business Finance to fund the creation of a completely new range of furniture for the bar, alongside local companies Telegraph Furniture and designer Crave ID. He said: “All the furniture is bespoke. I would describe it as old meets new.

Victoriana meets contemporary. We are in a 1888 building and we want to keep the characteristics of the Victoriana, but with a slightly more modern look.” Bathgate arranged a £33,000 loan to fund the furniture and Mr Askew said: “People might look at it and think, ‘that is not very much’. But to an individual restaurant it is quite a lot of money. It is all about the management of cash flow. Bathgate made it very easy for ourselves, Telegraph Furniture and Crave ID to work together. I hope to work with them in the future.”

Bathgate Business Finance managing director, Gordon Andrews, said: “We are delighted to work with Paul in launching the new champagne bar, which will be a great addition to The Art School offering.” wirrallife.com 75

WIRRAL BUSINESS

by Wirral Chamber of Commerce

WIRRAL BUSINESS AWARDS 2017 The business community in Wirral is celebrating following the Wirral Business Awards 2017 The winners of the Wirral Business Awards 2017 have been named at a glittering gala dinner held at Thornton Manor and attended by over 500 leading business people.

Organised by Wirral Chamber of Commerce, and supported by headline sponsors - Progress to Excellence Group Ltd and Russell Taylor Group - 11 awards were handed out to businesses, entrepreneurs and young people.

Wirral Business Awards 2017 winners are as follows: • • • • • • • • •

SURE Solutions - Newcomer of the Year (sponsored by Stiebel Eltron UK) Gud Design - Business of the Year Under 11 employees (sponsored by Pacific Sheds) Hoist UK - Business of the Year 11-49 employees (sponsored

by McEwan Wallace) CPL Training Group - Business of the Year 50+ employees (sponsored by NW Systems Group) Ben Russell of Russell Taylor Group - Business Person of the Year (sponsored by Smylie Ltd) Tom Barbat of Vigo IT Solutions - Rising Star Award (sponsored by Young Chamber) Tranmere Rovers FC - International Trade Award (sponsored

by Peel Group) B&M Waste Services - Sustainability Award (sponsored by Unilever) Unilever - People Development Award (sponsored by B&M Waste Services)

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• •

Auger - Customer Service Award (sponsored by The Contact Company) Capital Reinforcing - Outstanding Business of the Year (sponsored by Wirral Council)

Paula Basnett, CEO of Wirral Chamber of Commerce, said, “This was a night when businesses came together and celebrated success and achievement. The businesses clearly reflect our sector diversity which has gained Wirral a reputation of excellence and one which not only innovates but supports success.”

Joe Mullin, Production Manager at Capital Reinforcing, Wirral’s Outstanding Business of the Year 2017, commented, “Capital Reinforcing saw great potential in Wirral for our company and for us to have been named the Outstanding Business is a fantastic honour for the organisation, staff and management.”

The awards welcomed a record number of applications, demonstrating Wirral’s business sector strength and the positive impact it is having on economic growth. The night was hosted by award-winning journalist and Editor of BusinessCloud, Chris Maguire, with special guests Ranvir Singh, Political Editor of ITV Good Morning Britain, and Steve Rotheram, Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor.

An awards raffle was also held which raised £5,000 for Autism Together, Wirral Chamber of Commerce chosen charity for 2017.

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LOVE LISCARD INITIATIVE IS HERE Love Liscard, a partnership between Wirral Chamber of Commerce, local businesses and Wirral Council has been successfully launched.

The initiative will deliver a cleaner and safer Liscard and by encouraging business owners and the public to share their experiences of Liscard, it will support ways to improve the town. Since its launch, Town Hosts, Arfon Williams and Ian Davies, have been busy engaging with local businesses, together with welcoming visitors and acting as a direct link between businesses and service providers.

A number of businesses have already contributed by sponsoring the planters along Liscard Way which have been filled with colourful plants and flowers, Laurie’s The Jewellers, McDonald’s, The Flower Boutique, Tax Assist, K L A S Accountants, and P. R. Jewellery have all taken part in this venture which has brought fresh vibrancy and colour to the shopping area.

feedback and ideas we will now look to develop these over the coming months. By being very visible, the Town Hosts have now become a key part of the initiative and will continue to engage with all parties as we move forward.”

Councillor Bernie Mooney commented, “Wirral Council and Wirral Chamber of Commerce has created this initiative to make a real difference. We are confident that Love Liscard will support traders by building their confidence, whilst also attracting new visitors to the town. Its economic heart is the centre of Liscard and it is vital that we succeed, so we will build a real sense of community so people will recognise Liscard as a hub for retail and business growth.”

If you would like any further information on Love Liscard, please call us on 0151 650 6940 or email info@wirralchamber.co.uk.

With ongoing efforts to drive improvements the Town Hosts are also engaging with Wirral Council to address any issues highlighted by local retailers.

During September the Town Hosts spent the day at the MACS Family Fun Day at Parkfield Farm in Meols, and by supplying the charity with the Love Liscard Gazebo it enabled greater promotion of the initiative to a wider audience.

Paula Basnett, CEO of Wirral Chamber of Commerce said “We have had a very positive response for the Love Liscard initiative. It is abundantly clear that all concerned - councillors, business owners and residents - are passionate about the town and by providing us with

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BUSINESSES ARE COMING TOGETHER TO HELP WIRRAL CHAMBER CREATE AND DRIVE THE STRATEGIC DIRECTION OF THE WIRRAL BUSINESS LANDSCAPE Four more leading companies have joined forces with Wirral Chamber of Commerce to help further guide business growth on the peninsula.

LV Shipping, Teledyne CML Composites, Kirwans and Contessa Hotels have become strategic partners and will represent a crosssection of Wirral’s fastest growing business sectors in global logistics, technology, law and hospitality.

Strategic partners will be represented from across all aspects of manufacturing and professional services on the Wirral Chamber of Commerce strategic advisory board which will launch in November. 25 leading companies are now represented from across nearly all sectors. They are still, however, looking for a broader range of companies to join them, particularly in the areas of wealth management, automotive, housing, retail and higher education.

The full list of Wirral Chamber of Commerce Strategic Partners now includes: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

AEV Ltd. AF Global Connectors & Sealing Technologies British Telecom Concentric HR Contessa Hotels DLA Piper UK LLP Heap & Partners Ltd. Heatons Office Supplies Inteb Managed Services Kingsbridge Insurance Brokers Kirwans Solicitors LV Shipping & Transport Morgan Sindall Construction and Infrastructure Natwest NW Systems Group Regal Wholesale Smylies Ltd. Stiebel Eltron UK Teledyne CML Composites Turkish Airlines The Underground Training Station Wabtec Faiveley UK YPG

If you are a business and would like further information about strategic partnership opportunities in your sector, please contact: andysnell@wirralchamber.co.uk

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LV SHIPPING LV Shipping, specialists in freight forwarding, was founded in Holland in 1921 and has traded in the UK since 1986. Well established across the country, the company has 11 UK locations including Birkenhead.

Dedicated to offering customers integrated and end-to-end supply chain solutions, LV Shipping covers all major seaports and airports, providing connection across the UK and worldwide. Specialising in domestic, export and import shipping and transport - from single pallets to full containers and even vessel charters - LV’s staff have the knowledge and experience to help local companies with all issues arising from trading internationally.

This includes advice on customs formalities, Incoterms, and best transport mode by air, sea or land. Operations are backed by a network of overseas LV offices in countries such as Holland, USA, Brazil, Singapore, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan and more.

Kevin Walsh, UK Sales Director said, “We are delighted to be a Strategic Partner of Wirral Chamber of Commerce. As an established freight forwarding company with a Wirral presence since the late 1990’s, we look forward to engaging with Chamber members and supporting their shipping and transport needs.

“Our wide-ranging domestic and international client base includes several Wirral based companies and we look to further increase our profile locally by entering into this partnership with the UK’s fastest growing Chamber of Commerce.”

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TELEDYNE CML COMPOSITES

KIRWANS SOLICITORS

With a state of the art facility in Bromborough, Teledyne CML Composites provides comprehensive manufacturing services for composite products in advanced engineering applications, including components and assemblies for aircraft structures and systems.

A strategic partnership with Wirral Chamber of Commerce offers opportunities to drive the direction of Wirral’s business landscape.

For Kirwans, one of the North West’s most established and respected law firms, success has been built in delivering legal expertise to both private and commercial clients for over 70 years. With this vast depth of knowledge, it enables the company to offer complete legal solutions.

With a strong pedigree in the manufacture of machined and fabricated metallic components since the 1940’s, Teledyne CML Composites is now focused on the manufacture and supply of composite components from details through to complete sub-assemblies or kits of parts.

Andy Snell, Head of Strategic Partnerships and International Trade at Wirral Chamber commented, “Teledyne is a fantastic addition to our strategic partners, they are hugely ambitious for their company and Wirral’s continuing renaissance. By working with us and our Higher Education partner, it is looking to ensure it has the best possible skills base to draw upon to keep pace with future growth plans.”

Andy Snell, Head of Strategic Partnerships and International Trade at Wirral Chamber of Commerce, acknowledges the role played

by Frank Rogers, Head of Business Development at Kirwans, “Frank is synonymous with Wirral and has been at the heart of many regeneration initiatives with the Council and the Chamber.

His drive, energy and insight will be an invaluable addition to our strategic forum. Kirwans are a complete law firm with a broad range of services that we would not hesitate to recommend to our fastgrowing membership.”

CONTESSA HOTELS Wirral prides itself on being the fastest growing visitor destination within the Liverpool City Region, and has the two highest rated hotels with Hillbark and Leverhulme Hotels, Hillbark boasting a 5* rating.

The hotel owners, Contessa, have continued to deliver and meet the highest standards recognised not only within the tourism industry but by the standards that national and international guests expect.

Lisa Baker, Director of Contessa Hotels said: “From training and development of our teams to apprenticeship opportunities and gaining major accolades for the region, differentiates us from other high calibre hotels. As an independent group we have grown in Wirral as investment and tourism in the region has annually increased. Together with partnerships with many key stakeholders we are privileged to play a pivotal role in attracting more visitors, jobs, and investment as a whole.

Summarising, Lisa added, “We are delighted to work in partnership with such influential businesses in our community and the Chamber has chosen like-minded strategic partners who share the aim of putting Wirral on the map. Wirral Chamber of Commerce is a perfect partner for Contessa and we look forward to continuing this partnership in fostering and developing new relationships in the City Region as well as with other strategic partners.” wirrallife.com 79

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LOCAL PARENT-RUN BUSINESS REACHES 185 MILLION GLOBAL VIEWS AND 200,000 YOU TUBE SUBSCRIBERS Entertainment channel and YouTube sensation Toddler Fun Learning, founded by Wirral parents Amalie and Christian Hughes, is celebrating a busy month as they hit 185 million views and reached 200,000 subscribers of their YouTube channel. They have also launched a new app that allows their content to be watched on the go and have been shortlisted for the Family Entrepreneur of the Year category at the 2017 NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards.

Amalie and Christian created the channel when they became frustrated that they couldn’t find the kind of content they were looking for their then toddler. Fast forward four years and they now have three full time staff and a talented team of over 20 local creatives working on all elements of the business from design to music and technology.

With a library of videos teaching children everything from numbers, to telling the time and explaining gravity, Toddler Fun Learning aims to create content that both parents and children enjoy. The channel also includes shows such as Gecko’s Real Vehicles which teaches children about important vehicles and the dedicated crew that operate them such as volunteers from the RNLI, or the North West Ambulance service. Christian and Amalie live in West Kirby with their three children.

The new Toddler Fun Learning App has been developed following requests from their audience who wanted to access the content on the go. Rated 5* on the Educational App Store, their App helps parents manage screen time - and avoid potential toddler meltdowns - with the clever Parent Timer function. Creating a safe environment for children to watch it allows parents to set a 80 wirrallife.com

timer for five minutes up to one hour and when that time is up the Goodbye Song plays, with the characters from the channel singing goodbye and telling the child it’s time to go and play.

Amalie Hughes Co-Founder: “We’re so proud to have hit 185 million views of our content worldwide. What started as an idea when our eldest son Josh was 2 has now turned into a business where we can work with a local network of brilliant people. Being parents ourselves definitely helps guide us – we create content that we know our kids will love watching and a lot of the ideas come from what our kids are interested in. We’ve now created the App as we wanted the ability to download videos to watch on the move but also control how much time they spend watching the content. Kids are clever. They know when something hasn’t finished and it causes meltdowns. No-one wants that, we’ve learnt the hard way with that one, so now other parents don’t have to.”

All of Toddler Fun Learning’s content is made with an educational element and the App is supported by The Educational App Store with a five-star rating. The Toddler Fun Learning app is free to download and includes samples of the Toddler Fun Learning content and the Parental Timer. For £1.99 per month, subscribers get access to the full library of content as well as including new weekly content, the Adventure Mode which allows them to download videos to watch anytime, anywhere. The Toddler Fun Learning app is available on the App Store for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV. For more information, please visit Toddler Fun Learning’s videos at https://www.youtube.com/user/Toddlerfunlearning

AN EXCITING COLLECTION OF OVER 60 HANDPICKED STALLS OFFERING A WONDERFUL VARIETY OF UNIQUE AND BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS GIFTS. The perfect start to Christmas all under one roof. All proceeds raised go directly to North West Cancer Research.

WEDNESDAY 1ST NOVEMBER 2017 3pm - 9pm THURSDAY 2ND NOVEMBER 2017 9.30am - 3pm Walled Garden Marquee At Thornton Manor Thornton Hough Wirral CH63 1JB £4 Admission Refreshments Free Parking

www.wirralbazaar.com Sponsored by

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THE WIRRAL BAZAAR IS BACK! The Wirral Bazaar, which has gone from strength to strength over the past 27 years, will open its doors once again this November, in a bid to raise thousands of pounds for North West Cancer Research.

ladies involved arrived on the committee through their own personal journey. Some have lost loved ones and friends to cancer and some have even fought the disease themselves.

Taking place on Wednesday 1st and Thursday 2nd November at Thornton Manor, the annual shopping spectacular features a collection of more than 70 carefully selected stalls offering a variety of unique and beautiful Christmas gifts, which cannot be found on the high street.

The wide variety of stalls means that Christmas shopping can be done in one day, saving time and no waiting in for deliveries.

Ann Wild said: “Lady Boringdon was the original force behind the Bazaar and it was she who encouraged me to take over when she stepped down. The first Bazaars were a lot smaller, with just a handful of stall holders, I don’t think any of the original founders would have believed how the event would grow into what it is today.

For many Wirral residents coming to the Bazaar has formed part of their family Christmas traditions for generations.

Last year’s event attracted 2800 visitors, and raised a record- breaking £40,000 for North West Cancer Research (NWCR), with stall holders donating 10% of their takings to the local charity which funds lifesaving cancer research. The fair gives shoppers the unique opportunity to donate to charity whilst doing their Christmas shopping. In addition, the £4 entry fee and profits from the catering goes directly to NWCR. So by simply coming and meeting friends for coffee, lunch or a glass of prosecco, visitors will be making a difference.

The Wirral Bazaar was first founded in October 1991 by Lady Carolyn Boringdon and her friends Helen Taylor and April Stern, following a visit to a fair in Wrexham. Together they organised their own event on the Wirral and persuaded stall holders from all over the UK to take a stall at the Bazaar, to offer visitors the opportunity to buy gifts which aren’t readily found on the high street - unique and beautiful presents for all the family. Held at Heswall Hall for three years, the fair then moved to The Grange in Thornton Hough which it quickly outgrew, and four years ago set up home at the Walled Garden Marquee at Thornton Manor where the event is still held.

Half the funds raised from the original two-day event were donated to The Iris Fund for the prevention of blindness, with the other half donated to local charities. Other historical beneficiaries have included Dale Farm and The Women’s Refuge in Birkenhead.

Ann Wild took over the reins in 1994, supported by her friends Carol Stoddart, Jenny Jackson and Anne Williams. Having recently lost a friend to cancer and with a desire to do something to help, the ladies decided to dedicate the event solely to raise money for cancer research.

Today, 27 years later Ann is still part of the Bazaar Committee, which is now made up by Jennie Corlett, Alison Tongue, Carolyn Tallents, Ruth Walker, Catherine Sandow and Kate Williams. Each of the

“Cancer is a terrible disease which has touched the lives of many of us. I myself have lost many good friends to the disease, including my husband Patrick. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer after a blood test and underwent a year of treatment, but sadly died in 2009.

“All the volunteers and stallholders we work with share the same conviction and determination to do something about this dreadful disease. Every penny we raise to fund research and the fight against cancer is important, which is why the support of the local community who turn out year after year is gratefully received by us all.

“The Bazaar is a fantastic event to enjoy with friends and family and with the wide variety of stalls available; it is the perfect chance to get hold of some exclusive gifts this Christmas.”

Nigel Lanceley, Chairman of North West Cancer Research, added: “On behalf of everyone at North West Cancer Research, I would like to thank the group for their astonishing efforts and for turning the Bazaar into such an iconic event for the Wirral community.

“We rely heavily on the work of our volunteers and community fundraising events like Wirral Bazaar which account for a significant proportion of our income. Without them, we would not be able to continue to commit to funding the best research locally.”

This year’s Wirral Bazaar will take place in the Walled Garden Marquee at Thornton Manor on Wednesday 1st November from 3pm till 9pm and on Thursday 2nd November from 9.30am till 3pm. The Bazaar is kindly sponsored by The Mitchell Group, Cammel Laird, Investec, Harris Opticians, Guy Williams Layton and Thornton Manor, whose support has insured the continuing success of the fair.

Entry is £4, and on one level so suitable for disabled shoppers and those with buggies. For more information visit www.wirralbazaar.com

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WIRRAL BUSINESS AWARDS 2017 The business community in Wirral is celebrating following the Wirral Business Awards 2017.

The winners of the business awards were named on Friday 22nd September at the glittering gala dinner held at Thornton Manor attended by over 500 of the regions leading business people.

Organised by Wirral Chamber of Commerce, and supported by Headline Sponsors, Progress to Excellence Group Ltd and Russell Taylor Group, the annual event is one of the largest and most prestigious events held in the region highlighting the outstanding innovation and enterprise by companies and individuals across the spectrum of Wirral’s business community.

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THE TAPAS KITCHEN LAUNCH Wirral Life were delighted to be invited to take a look at the new Tapas Kitchen on Banks Road in West Kirby.

With a modern tasteful decor, great atmosphere, inspired drinks choice and a wonderful selection of freshly prepared tapas, the quality of the food was very impressive with some very interesting dishes on offer. Colin, front of house and Phil, Head Chef have created a truly winning formula. We were particularly impressed with the Sunday Social offer, 3 superb tapas with artisan bread and olives for only ÂŁ13.50 all day. To check it out, visit: www.thetapaskitchen.co.uk.

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TWEEDMILL AW17 FASHION SHOW North Wales most renowned Shopping Outlet, Tweedmill, hosted their Autumn Winter Fashion Show in September showcasing the latest trends for the upcoming season.

Twelve models took to the catwalk in outfits from the latest winter collections including quality brands: Roman Originals, Klass, Cotton Traders, Brook Taverner, Cotton Traders, Jacques Vert, Skopes, Greenwoods and Bonmarche to name a few. And not forgetting that these collections were accessorised with footwear from Pavers and Ruby Shoo.

Guests were treated to prosecco and canapes on arrival, and were entertained with live music throughout the day. A fabulous day was had by all!

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

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THORNTON HALL WINE TASTING EVENT The Lawns hosted an introduction evening into the world of Italian wines, the evening opened with a glass of prosecco to excite the taste buds, the guests were then seated in the fabulous Lawns Restaurant and a delightful four course meal followed. Each course, created by Head Chef, Chad Hughes was accompanied by a paired Italian wine.

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Photography by Ray Farley

PETER COLLINGE 90TH BIRTHDAY PARTY Peter Collinge celebrated his 90th birthday at the Andrew Collinge Salon, Castle Street, Liverpool. The evening was a reunion of many of those staff, old and new, all of which have benefited from this training. Andrew Collinge made a speech paying tribute to Peter’s achievements, which was followed by a film of Peter’s photographic work, archive photos and messages from staff from all over the world. Margaret McQuaid, his first apprentice in 1954, made a presentation of a birthday cake together with the newest and youngest recruit to the Andrew Collinge apprenticeship programme, David Randles.

The evening was a glowing success and a fitting celebration for Peter’s exceptional contribution both to the hairdressing world and to the city of Liverpool. Happy Birthday Peter!

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THE 68TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING PEOPLE REPUBLIC OF CHINA The People’s Republic of China was founded on 1 October 1949. Since then, celebrations of varying scales occur on this National Day each year, October 1st.

This year, the Wah Sing Chinese Community Centre and Chinese School celebrated the day a little differently, showing off the refurbished Wah Sing on Duke Street.

The celebration started with a breathtaking traditional Lion Dance and Martial Arts display from the Hung Gar Kung Fu Club. Followed by The D’Ukes of Hazzard Band.

The event was well attended with not only The Lord Mayor, Cllr Malcom Kennedy and Lady Mayoress Lianna Kennendy, but also the Young Lord Mayor Anton Bibby and Junior Lord Mayor Freddie Hall.

A huge thanks to Jeffrey Dunn who saw a great opportunity for the connection of the youngsters.

The Consulate of the People Republic of China from Manchester Consul Shi Shu Ping was also in attendance.

A collection bucket was sent around and raised £317.54 for the Lord Mayor charities.

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THE ROYAL VISIT Prince William headed to Wirral on a royal visit.

He visited Guinea Gap leisure centre in Wallasey and was greeted by large crowds. He also took part in an event hosted by British Sub-Aqua Club, Swim England and the English Schools’ Swimming Association - The Duke is patron of all three.

The Mayor Cllr Anne McLaughlin said preparations went well for the special visit.

During his time in Merseyside, the Duke of Cambridge also opened the new Urgent Care and Trauma Centre at Aintree Hospital and visited the Life Rooms which provides a safe and social place for recovery, health and wellbeing.

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MACKENZIE THORPE EVENING AT LFC FOR CASH FOR KIDS Radio City’s Cash for Kids were delighted to team up with international artists MacKenzie Thorpe to bring the ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ charity dinner at The Beautiful Game suite in Anfield stadium.

The evening began with an arrival drink followed by a private viewing of paintings from MacKenzie’s ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ collection. The evening included dinner, a special Q&A with MacKenzie himself followed by a charity raffle, auction and entertainment. MacKenzie also donated ‘Across the Mersey’ an original piece that was auctioned off on the night of the event.

Carole Clare, Cash for Kids said: “MacKenzie has clients from all around the world including JK Rowling and the Queen and it was a privilege that such a prolific artist is supporting Cash for Kids.”

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THE MAYORS BALL The Mayor and Consort of Wirral hosted their Annual Charity Ball and were delighted that over 200 guests joined them on the night.

They would like to say a special thank you to Thornton Hall Hotel & Spa, and all the sponsors and donors of fabulous prizes.

All funds raised will go to their chosen Charities, IncuBabies and Merseyside Autistic Children’s Society.

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY JO O’BRIAN & MELVYN HAMID

HILLSBOROUGH 96 FREEDOM OF WIRRAL Hillsborough 96 has been awarded freedom of Wirral in tribute to victims and campaigners.

The riverside gardens at Wallasey Town Hall have been dedicated to the 96 men, women and children who died as a result of the Hillsborough tragedy. The gardens will also become a tribute dedicated to the “courage, dignity and tenacity” of those who have fought for justice since the 1989 disaster.

Mayor of Wirral Cllr Ann McLachlan, who oversaw the dedication of the gardens as a place for “remembrance and reflection”, said: “It was a proud and poignant occasion when family members and friends of those affected by the Hillsborough stadium disaster gathered at Wallasey Town Hall.”

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Wirral Life Photography in association with Leica Store Manchester

BRIEF 11: AUTUMN SUN RAYS GOLD: STEVE MADDEN

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GOLD: COLIN WATSON

GOLD: BARBARA ROBERTS

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BRIEF 11: AUTUMN SUN RAYS

SILVER: PAUL ASHTON

SILVER: PAUL ASHTON

BRONZE: DAVID FAVAGER

THANKS TO ALL OF OUR ENTRANTS. NEXT MONTH - BRIEF 12: AUTUMN COLOURS. NEW SHOTS ONLY. DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 8. SEND TO editorial@wirrallife.com ADD YOUR NAME TO ALL FILES. UP TO 3 ENTRIES (NO PHONES). GOOD LUCK! 104 wirrallife.com

A SPECIALIST PERFORMANCE CAR REQUIRES A PERFORMANCE CAR SPECIALIST

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CARS & COFFEE

By Norman Shum

Shot by Mike McTigue

The smiles from the excited children alone when they lay eyes on these amazing vehicles says more than a hundred words, if not a hundred miles an hour.

The excited petrolheads gathered in numbers doubling up with their children and partners brought the day to a stop start beginning. Unsure about the early morning weather, it was a great sight to see Richard Clapham from Lexus Liverpool appear in a gleaming ‘fresh from the factory’ Lexus LC500. A beautifully sculpted sports coupé or berlinetta, meaning ‘a body with a sloping roof ’, sometimes sloping downwards gradually in the rear with normally 2 doors with 2 + 2 seats. So that’s 2 luxurious sport seats at the front and 2 shorter bucket seats at the back. You could say it’s Japan’s quintessential vehicle type for an elegant, exclusive and glamorous kind of existence. It boasts 3.5- Litre V6 petrol- electric/ Hybrid or a powerful 5.0-Litre atmospheric V8 engine. This should rival luxury sports coupés like the Mercedes S Class Coupé or Porsche Panamera. The Lexus with its stark and stella styling looks very different from the norm. And I don’t mean me.

This grand tourer was proudly standing in front of the Chung Ku restaurant with a large collection of vintage, sports and eclectic 80s vehicles. A mixed bag shall we say to suit all kinds of motorheads.

Les Durran (who suffers from Parkinson’s) and his fellow Ford Owners received a warm welcome that day as Cars and Coffee Liverpool chose to support Parkinson’s UK ran by Sarah Green the North West regional fundraiser. Les, who I’m sure we mentioned in a previous article in Wirral Life - arrived in his beautiful Mexico Blue Ford Mk1 Escort in style along with many retro eighties Fords, from a MK5 Cortina to a MK3 Capri all modded subtly under the bonnet. A talking point that day with fellow enthusiasts and modders. The array of Fords certainly would give Bodie and Doyle a field day in the old TV series The Professionals - C15.

Special thanks to Roy McCarthy with his wonderful automotive illustrations and his book launch which was on sale on the day - exclusive to Cars and Coffee Liverpool. He donated all his proceeds to the charity. Next is the sale of a pile of Ford magazines kindly donated by Mark Jordan and his son Luke.

We’re so grateful to all the members, contributors such as David Gidman from Lamborghini HR Owen, Carly & her team at Tesla and sponsors such as Change Beverages, Lavazza, Auto Renew & OCD Porsche (whom are incidentally also in this month’s magazine) for the two and a half hours meet, raising £400 for the bucket shakers.

For more up and coming ‘Cars and Coffee Liverpool’ meetings, check our Facebook group page! Instagram or email: carsandcoffeeliverpool@gmail.com

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OCD PORSCHE OPEN EVENING The North West Porsche owners and aficionados gathered for an open evening at OCD Porsche Specialist, collaborating with Porsche Club GB North Wales region 6 organised by Sue Taylor. OCD Porsche Independent Specialist is based on the Wirral just by the Wallasey tunnel and maintains, services, repairs, restores and modifies a lot of the local Porsche cars in the area.

The guests were welcomed to a warm beverage reception on a chilly evening with an assortment of refreshments - and even an ice cream for the brave thanks to customers Harry & Phil who run and own Liverpool’s finest ice cream van.

The night demonstrated the work carried out, a display of customers vehicles and a prepped race car, run and owned

by Andy Fagan in the Porsche Club GB Championship. The focal piece of the night was the white 'Luftgekuhlt' 911 Porsche project custom built for an overseas customer. The car was restored/repainted and built from the ground up, requesting everything you can imagine enhanced and changed, from the whole interior cladded with Italian leather to bespoke wheels from Magnus Walker Fifteen 52 Outlaws, Silver's full adjustable suspension, to a full engine bay overhaul.

The sponsors and contributors on the night such as Mobil One, Porsche Centre Wilmslow, Bilsteins and Pagid made sure the night was special with generous prizes for a raffle, raising funds for Claire House Children's Hospice.

'Perfection as Standard' is their motto because they see no reason to be average and pride themselves in delivering affordable and professional care for your beloved Porsche.

OCD Porsche Specialist MD and head mechanic, Chris Douras, looks forward to welcoming customers through the winter months. Call for any advice on 0151 638 8911.

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ALFA ROMEO GIULIA 2.2 TURBO DIESEL

by Tony Yates

For the last six months I have been waiting for the new Alfa Romeo Giulia to arrive on my driveway – well, it’s finally here. I’m not going to get too excited about it because it’s just another car right? Wrong.

This is an Alfa and I’m very excited about it. The Giulia is so sexy, I want to run away with it to a remote desert island .

The easiest way of explaining this is by saying; owning an Alfa is kind of like finding out your new girlfriend has a passion for beach volleyball and being asked if you minded doing the job of applying the sun cream to the rest of the team as and when required. Oh dear, maybe that was a little over the top, even for me – but just remember this is no ordinary ‘Alfa Romeo’.

Right, now I have got that out my system, I’ll calm down and resume my normal mode for the rest of the review. But please be aware that I may at some point burst into uncontrollable rants of lust for the Giulia - so please, be on your guard at all times whilst reading on.

Power and Efficiency: My test car was fitted with a 2,143cc 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine with180HP. Top speed is around 143mph and 0-62 is up in 7.0 sec. Well, now we have that bit out the way – what was the engine actually like I hear you shout? Well, for a diesel, I would give it a big fat YES on all levels. Mainly because the engine pulls really well in any gear thanks to a brilliant 8-speed transmission, which also just happens to offer up maximum torque figure of around 450Nm. Ok, it’s not a missile – but its still bloody quick. Plus, I have to tell you that there are not many cars that have made me feel this way for a long time. Where the Giulia really shines though is in its ability to return over 60mpg (combined) and CO2 emissions as low as 109 g/km, which is just staggering. It feels alive and posied ready for action - exactly how a proper Alfa should feel.

On the road: The suspension is set up in such a way that it works in perfect harmony with the chassis to keep the Giulia not only flat into the corners but also controlled enough on the exit, allowing you to really feel how well all those components are working together to assure you of maximum grip at all times. Plus, 112 wirrallife.com

of course, it also happens to have that all-important Alfa DNA at its heart which also oozes out by the bucket load. So, does this sound like a guy totally obsessed by something simply made out of a load of nuts & bolts, or is there something more human here about the Alfa? Well, all I can tell you is that every time I arrived back home from being out in the Giulia – I spent quite a lot of time locked in the garage meditating. I don’t actually know what that means, but it sounded good.

Design & Technology On the inside, the Giulia is exciting and the attention to detail on the interior finish is not only good, it’s breathtaking. You know this is a real driver’s car the moment you sit inside. And it’s good to see that Alfa hasn’t forgotten any of that. The interior seating is well designed and the seats support you firmly. The cabin is also festooned by a decent amount of quality materials that will wear well for many years to come. Legroom in the back is good for all occupants which makes my life travelling with my children a more happy affair - thanks mainly to the amount of space they had between them limiting the moans of ‘he keeps pinching me’. Like I said earlier – the Alfa is a real driver’s car, and the Giulia is actually turning out to be something very special indeed.

Some of the standard equipment includes; 7” TFT colour cluster display, Alfa D.N.A driving mode selector, automatic headlights, dual-zone climate control, rear parking sensors, 8 speaker audio system, cruise control, Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Integrated Brake System (IBS) and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) Plus, an engine start button on the steering wheel which is very cool indeed and a nice touch.

To sum up: The Giulia is a great car. All I need now is a large bottle of sun cream, a desert island, the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Rosie HuntingtonWhiteley.

Price: From £32,990 tony@yatesmedia.co.uk

Driving this Alfa is like discovering your new girlfriend has a passion for beach volleyball.

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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.

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