ABC Magazine: North Shields & Tynemouth Edition - Oct/Nov 2020

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WELCOME TO ABC MAGAZINE Welcome to the North Shields & Tynemouth edition of ABC, your bi-monthly local magazine.

ABC is distributed free of charge to thousands of selected homes in the area and is available in over 200 outlets such as Cafés, Dentists, Hairdressers, Health Clubs, Community Centres. You can also read it online, visit www.yourabc.co.uk for more information.

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If you’re interested in advertising in ABC, please call Richard on 07526 522272 or email info@yourabc.co.uk Publisher: R Wilson Advertising, PO Box 225, Bedlington, NE63 3FL www.yourabc.co.uk Email: info@yourabc.co.uk Facebook: @yourabc Twitter: @abcmagazines Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher nor the editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other clause. R Wilson Advertising does not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. All Rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of the publisher.

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A D V E RT I S I N G F E AT U R E

Handmade Art-Jewellery

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ituated in Ouseburn, the artistic engine-room of Newcastle, Silverkupe offers unique handmade jewellery for discerning clients.

After more than 20 years of teaching landscape architecture and 3D modelling, Emine started her jewellery journey in 2017 and never looked back.

Originally from Istanbul, she lives in Whitley Bay and creates her contemporary jewellery from the BBox Studios in Newcastle.

Since the beginning of her creative journey Emine has always been fascinated by colour, texture and form. She uses a combination of techniques in her creations, such as traditional silversmithing, metalclay, and sculptural and enamelling techniques.

She seeks to bring together the individual characteristics of different materials and techniques to construct unmistakable pieces. Colour plays an important role in her designs also. Emine achieves deep blacks by selective oxidisation, intense blues and reds by vitreous enamels, and adds indulgence to her designs with 24k gold-accents. Her pieces get hallmarked at the Edinburgh Assay Office.

Emine’s expressive jewellery offers a

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Emine’s modern silver art-jewellery, with its pop of colour and gold, might be just the thing you are looking for.

contemporary twist on more traditional ideas. Due to handmade process, every single piece is one-of-a- kind. Currently she has four collections within her portfolio, Colour Seeds, Dotty, Simplicity and Half & Half that reflects her unique design.

You can find her art-jewellery in fourteen galleries and gift shops across the UK and on her website. Up until recently, she also exhibited her designs in many UK locations such as London, York, Newcastle, Durham, Saltaire, Glasgow and, of

course, Whitley Bay. Speaking about life as a designer-maker and her business values, Emine said: ‘Jewellery and precious metals play an important role in traditional Turkish culture. Just have a look at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul!

This culture is embedded in me. I am also fascinated by how silver, and indeed gold, can be endlessly recycled, and how every bit of discarded metal can eventually be turned into a beautiful piece. I use eco-friendly jewellery presentation boxes and my postage material is all recycled’.

Emine has been living in the UK since 1999 and the name ‘Silverkupe’ encapsulates her background and her future.

‘Küpe’ means an earring in Turkish. As a child and a teenager, Emine always liked silver jewellery and especially earrings. So she combined two words from the two different cultures to which she belongs to

create her brand name.

Emine loves teaching and enjoys seeing people developing and finding out what they are cable of doing. She gives jewellery-making workshops at her studio. These are currently one-to-one only. Workshops from her range are proving to be popular gifts. You can select from six different workshops, ranging from introductory silverclay to more advanced silversmithing techniques. She is planning further options for her workshop portfolio to spread the joy of making even more!

Emine’s modern silver artjewellery, with its pop of colour and gold, might be just the thing you are looking for. You can select a statement piece or everyday jewellery to accompany your individual style. Emine also accepts bespoke commissions and designs the pieces according to her client’s needs, desires and visions. And if you cannot decide what to choose for a loved one, she offers personalized gift cards as well.

■ Silverkupe Jewellery & Workshops, BBox Studios, Studio 30, Stoddart Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 1AN www.silverkupe.com contact@silverkupe.com 7

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LOCAL NEWS

Images: North Tyneside Council

Next stage of Whitley Bay's Northern Promenade transformation to begin

Work to complete the next stage of the ambitious transformation of Whitley Bay’s Northern Promenade is to get underway.

North Tyneside Council is investing more than £1million in the project, which will see the external renovation of the much-loved Rendezvous Café and elements of The Links Gallery Cafe, the public toilets revamped, the Dukes Walk car park resurfaced and the promenade surface and public realm in the areas around the cafes upgraded. The work is expected to be complete by spring 2021.

It is the next phase of the council’s exciting makeover of the popular promenade and forms part of the Ambition for North Tyneside strategy, which outlines plans for major investment in each part of the borough.

As part of the Ambition strategy, a number of major achievements have already been made, including the major £6million flood alleviation project at Killingworth Lake and the revamp of Forest Hall shopping area, while public consultation is underway on the draft masterplan for North Shields aimed at revitalising the town centre and improving its connectivity to the Fish Quay.

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Elected Mayor Norma Redfearn CBE said: “I am absolutely delighted that we’re ready to press ahead with the next stage of the promenade’s transformation. We’re seeing lots of great, new investment in the town on the back of our successful regeneration and it will only add to the popularity and appeal of Whitley Bay as a great place to live, work and visit.”

The first phase of improvements to the promenade, which were part of the council’s multi-million pound Seafront Master Plan, saw the tired and uninviting walkway completely transformed with bright coloured surfacing and new seating, shelters and railings. An ice cream and coffee kiosk has also opened there. As part of the next phase, red tarmac will replace the current paving in the area in front of the Rendezvous café, new pebble seating will be installed and the edging blocks and railings will be upgraded to match the southern section.

The public toilets will be given a makeover, similar to the work carried out to improve the Watts Slope facilities. The work to the café is aimed at preserving its character while improving the fabric

of the building. Level access will be created and repointing work and repairs will be carried out.

The Dukes Walk car park will be resurfaced, the entrance steps to the Links Art Gallery entrance will be replaced, the connecting footpaths to the promenade will be improved and the shelter on the Links opposite Bournemouth Gardens will undergo repairs.

Both the Rendezvous and Links Gallery cafes will remain open throughout the works and although the existing public toilets will be closed during the project, temporary toilet facilities will be provided next to the car park.

Parking will not be available in the Dukes Walk car park from 12 October and public access will be prevented to the car park and to the promenade in front of the Rendezvous Café, as well as through the southern archway from the car park to the promenade.

Alternative parking is available nearby in the Brierdene car park and elsewhere along the coast.

Further work to complete the refurbishment of the remainder of the promenade is also earmarked to take place over the next two to three years.

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LOCAL NEWS

WOODEN DOLLY COMES HOME TO NORTH SHIELDS Freshly restored and back where she belongs – the famous Wooden Dolly of North Shields takes pride of place once again in the centre of Northumberland Square.

The mahogany statue, depicting a fishwife with a basket, is part of a longstanding tradition in North Shields. But her condition began to deteriorate after more than 60 years outside and she was taken away for repairs in December last year.

Now she’s back watching over the square after being restored at Thompson’s workshop in Kilburn, North Yorkshire, the same workshop where she was created by Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson in 1958.

North Tyneside’s Elected Mayor, Norma Redfearn CBE, said: “It’s wonderful to have the dolly home again, the square hasn’t quite been the same without her. Wooden dollies are part of a long-standing tradition in North Shields and when the condition of the dolly began to deteriorate, we decided we had to take action to preserve an important piece of local history.

The return of the dolly coincides with the completion of the first phase of work to revive a Grade II listed Georgian terrace on the north side of the square for housing and is another part of the council’s Ambition for North Shields.

John Sparkes, head of regeneration at North Tyneside Council, said: “The dolly is a unique example of the kind of work that Robert Thompson was famous for, and the

statue has a special place in the hearts of local people.

“When she was taken away for repairs in December, people were coming up to us concerned that she may never come back. Well I’m pleased to say that the amazing people at the Mouseman workshop have done a remarkable job of restoring her. As we move forward with our Ambition for North Shields masterplan, it’s important that we retain the unique character of our area. The dolly, together with the completed first phase of new homes, are an important part of that and it’s great to have her home.”

The first of North Shields’ wooden dolls was placed at the entrance to Customs House Quay, on Liddell Street, in 1814. It became traditional for mariners to shave pieces of wood from the figure as good luck charms before going to sea and a replacement doll was made each time the previous version was defaced beyond recognition. The Northumberland Square dolly is the fifth statue of its kind.

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LOCAL NEWS

Two charities are saluting their partnership which could help ex-servicemen and women across North Tyneside for years to come.

Age UK North Tyneside has teamed up with Operation Veteran to make sure vulnerable people can access support and advice, and combat loneliness, in what is a landmark collaboration for the two organisations.

The partnership was celebrated at the opening of Operation Veteran’s hub and new coffee shop on Nile Street in North Shields – which is specifically for ex-service people and their families to visit, where they can socialise and receive support.

Charity bosses hope to extend the partnership to last for years into the future.

Speaking at the opening of the hub and café, Head of Charity Services at Age UK North Tyneside Yvonne Probert said: “This is an extremely important hub and growing partnership which will greatly benefit ex-service people across North Tyneside.

“Covid-19 has made it more difficult for us to deliver certain services but also made it even more important than ever that older people, including veterans, get all the help and support they need.

“We are incredibly excited to be working with Operation Veteran, which will give us the ability to reach out to many more veterans than ever before.

“Although we have been working together informally for a while, this new hub will grow the partnership and will enable each organisation to refer people easily to each other so older veterans can access both sets of services.

“We hope this will be have a positive impact on a lot of lives. In the long term we hope to be able to run an outreach programme from the Operation Veteran Hub and Charity Coffee Shop too, which is exciting.”

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Image: Rusby Media

Charities salute ‘life-changing’ partnership to benefit ex-servicemen and women across the region

Age UK North Tyneside’s Yvonne Probert and Jim Owens from Operation Veteran

The two charities have worked separately with hundreds of veterans over the past three years, but hope to support many more with this partnership.

Operation Veteran Managing Director Jim Owens said: “These are two organisations with different aims and objectives coming together to meet the very real needs of the community.

“We have ex-service people of all ages – from the Army, Royal Air force and Navy – coming through our door, and partnering with Age UK North Tyneside will mean that we can offer them more help than ever before.

“It is a very exciting time for our charity.”

Age UK North Tyneside runs a Befriending Service – where older people are paired with someone to visit or phone them regularly – and has already helped around 100 older people combat loneliness during the pandemic.

It now plans to involve more veterans in its Information and Advice service, which last year helped more than 3000 people from across the

borough access more than £1.7m in previously-unclaimed benefits.

Other services veterans will be able to access include Winter home checks, Priority Services Registration, Winter fuel and cold weather payments, green home grants, scam avoidance support, support to obtain war medals and veteran badges and much more.

Yvonne added: “Loneliness is becoming more and more of an issue in these times and we hope this partnership will really help tackle veterans’ susceptibility to this feeling of isolation.

“Our Information and Advice service is vital in helping people claim the money they are entitled to, and again, we believe ex-service people could really benefit from being able to access these funds.”

■ To find out more about these services, contact Age UK North Tyneside on 0191 280 8484.

For more information, head to www.ageuk.org.uk/northtyneside/ our-services/joining-forces/

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LOCAL NEWS

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Georgian apartments go on sale in Northumberland Square With their classic exterior, period features, and modern living spaces – these luxury apartments are expected to be in high demand.

The five properties are the first of 28 new homes to be completed as part of a stunning Georgian revival in Northumberland Square. The Grade II listed terrace, built between 1810 and 1816, is being converted back into homes as part of a bold project to create a stylish new living space in the centre of North Shields.

The apartments have been tastefully modernised, each with an open plan living room, dining room and kitchen, and a choice of one or two bedrooms. Courtyard parking and gardens are available at the back but the ‘wow factor’ is likely to be the view across the Northumberland Square Conservation Area, which is the nearest thing Tyneside has to the celebrated Georgian squares of London, Bath and Edinburgh.

In total, 10 listed apartments and two townhouses are being created, while a further 16 new build homes are taking shape at Northumberland Close (13 houses and three apartments) on the neighbouring plot between Northumberland Square and Albion Road.

The redevelopment is being delivered by Aurora Properties, acting on behalf of North Tyneside Council, with construction work being carried out by Compass Developments Ltd. It’s part of the Ambition for North Shields masterplan, which aims to combine living, working and retail and transform the town centre into a family-friendly destination as well as connecting it to an increasingly vibrant Fish Quay.

Councillor Bruce Pickard, Director of Aurora Properties and Deputy Mayor of North Tyneside, said: “The building, like the square itself, is a fine example of Georgian architecture and although the townhouses have been divided into apartments, there is a definite air of grandeur and elegance about these properties. The architects have very tastefully updated the buildings and found the perfect balance between the historic and the contemporary.

“The project is one of the key elements of a plan to revitalise the town centre and Fish Quay in North Shields, and of the wider Ambition for North Tyneside strategy focussing on the whole of the borough. Great care and attention has been taken, from the design and layout of the properties to the finish of the fixtures and fittings, and to ensure that original features would be incorporated into the design. I am certain that people will be swept away by the prospect of living here the moment they step inside.”

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Unit 21

LOCAL NEWS

Befriending volunteer Lynsey Finlayson visits Tom Bailey for Age UK North Tyneside

New telephone support service was the right call for North Tyneside charity Over 100 older people have been kept from loneliness since the start of the Covid-19 crisis thanks to a new telephone befriending service from Age UK North Tyneside.

The charity has run a successful Befriending Service – where volunteers have been matched with older people based in North Tyneside for the last 20 years, but because of lockdown and people’s need to self-isolate they had to adapt their service to sociallydistance.

The telephone service has been so popular that the charity looking to develop this even further and has appointed a new Telephone Befriending Co-ordinator to run it, who starts in mid-September.

Head of Charity Services, Yvonne Probert, said: “Loneliness can affect people in very different ways and even if an older person has family and friends, they may still have times when they may feel lonely or are in need of friendship.

“Our befriending services offer older people a chance to share their stories, make a new friend and connect with someone outside their usual social circle.

“It is fantastic that we have many more people coming on board to receive support from Age UK North Tyneside, but we are always on the lookout for more people to work with – both as befrienders and befriendees.

“Looking forward, we will be rolling out more virtual and telephone support, especially as social distancing 22

restrictions are the new norm.”

Although lockdown restrictions have been relaxed, many older people are still receiving their Befriending support over the phone as they continue to self-isolate.

Moving forward, Befriending customers – who are matched with a volunteer by the charity based on their needs and interests – will be able to choose if they receive the service over the phone, or face-to-face.

Customer Tom Bailey, 91, received regular phone calls from volunteer Befriender Lynsey Finlayson for five months before he was able to meet her face-toface again.

He said having someone to talk to has helped him get through lockdown, and helps him take his mind off any worries he has.

The great-grandfather said: “Lynsey is a such a lovely young lady and I love when she comes to see me. It takes my mind off any troubles that I have and puts me at ease.

“It’s so important to be able to look forward to something and that is what Lynsey brings me. Even when we were speaking over the phone and not seeing each other I always looked forward to her call.”

If you are interested in becoming a Befriender, or feel you or a family member could benefit from being a Befriendee, contact Age UK North Tyneside on 0191 280 8484.

Visit www.ageuk.org.uk/northtyneside for more information.

TELEPHONE BEFRIENDING Our Telephone Befriending service makes a real difference to an older person's life in our community. Contact us for more information

Call 0191 2808484 or E mail: customerservices@ageuknorthtyneside.org.uk

LO CA L N E W S

THE ALNWICK GARDEN Ready To Welcome Visitors Back Again

If you feel the need to get out of the house and have a change of scenery, then how about The Alnwick Garden? The venue is now back open, and all the staff are looking forward to welcoming guests back to the multi-award winning visitor attraction once again.

However, in keeping with these unprecedented times, there have been some changes to the Alnwick Garden experience to help keep all visitors safe, whilst making your visit as enjoyable as possible.

The garden will open from 9am – 6pm every day, and all bookings must be made online or by telephone. The site will also be cashless.

Visitors will be required to book their tickets online and, whilst booking, you can select the day and the time that you wish to arrive. All Friends of The Alnwick Garden will receive a letter or email with a dedicated phone number and web URL to allow you to book your visit slot.

The Garden have also got the official seal of approval from VisitBritain to say that they are following government and industry Covid-19 guidelines.

Check out the list of safely measures on the opposite page for all visitors over the coming months to ensure everyone has a pleasant, enjoyable and safe experience.

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Keeping the garden in order and clean has been the teams priority. Your safety is their top concern and they have taken the time over the last few weeks to make sure they are ready for your return.

Alnwick Garden is the brainchild of The Duchess of Northumberland, and is a multi-award winning visitor attraction based just south of Alnwick Town Centre, clearly signposted off the A1.

The Garden boasts 12 acres of meandering and magnificent Gardens, and is home to the world’s largest Tai Haku Cherry Orchard, a Grand Cascade comprising 120 water jets, and the worlds largest Treehouse Restaurant. Unfortunately the restaurant is currently closed due to Covid restrictions but keep visiting their website for details of it’s re-opening.

The Garden is a peacful and tranquil haven to spend hour after hour wandering amongst the Roses, the Ornamental Garden and the Cherry Blossom or just kicking back to take it all in on one of the 50 swinging benches.

The Garden is a registered charity, and any surplus from it’s running is re-invested into improving and developing The Alnwick Garden for the future through one of their charity programmes, helping people in and around Northumberland from a variety of social backgrounds.

Here are some of the safely measures, restrictions and rules in place for all visitors over the coming months to ensure everyone has a pleasant, enjoyable and safe experience:

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Images: Alwick Garden

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www.alnwickgarden.com

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Please ensure you arrive at your selected time with your booking confirmation. The staff will not be able to admit you into The Garden without it, or if you arrive earlier/later than the time specified on your booking confirmation.

If you are driving to The Alnwick Garden, please be considerate of those around you whilst parking, leaving or returning to your vehicle. Paying for parking will be via contactless card payment only, and you are able to park anywhere other than the first tier which is reserved for Blue Badge holders only.

After you have parked, please maintain a distance of 2 metres or more from other visitors and adhere to any signage and guidelines you see across.

Please follow the one-way routes where applicable.

If you need to double back, please do so at the earliest juncture instead of turning around as this compromises the safety of other visitors.

The Gift Shop and Plant Centre have temporarily relocated. You are able to visit these areas even if you do not have a ticket. Please follow the signage on the one-way system to access these areas.

The Gift Shop and Plant Centre will only be accepting card payments.

Masks must be worn inside the Gift Shop, Pavilion Kitchen (unless seated inside) and The Bakery.

There will be limited toilet facilities available, these will be cleaned every 20 minutes for your safety.

Within The Garden you are free to move around at your leisure, however, the onus is on you to ensure that you and your family exercise the 2 metre rule.

Please be respectful of others space and safety.

There may be some areas within The Garden that are too narrow for two-way traffic. If this is the case please utilise the one-way system that will be clearly signposted.

The Garden will have hand sanitiser available across the site. Please feel free to use this as and when you deem necessary.

The Garden will be allowing picnics on site. If you have any litter please make sure you dispose of it responsibly or take it home with you. Littering puts both visitors and staff at risk.

The Poison Garden will be open, but unfortunately there will be no guided tours. Instead, you can learn about what’s in the Poison Garden using a QR code reader app on your smart phone, or by purchasing one of our Poison Garden books available in the Gift Shop.

The swinging benches are being thoroughly sanitised twice a day. If you do wish to use the swinging benches please utilise the sanitisers available at the top of the Cherry Orchard before and after use.

At this time our children’s tractors will be unavailable. This will be used as an opportunity to send them off for an MOT and a full valet so they’re all set for next season!

25

RECIPE

CHICKEN JAMBALAYA A CAJUN-INSPIRED RICE POT, THAT IS PURE COMFORT FOOD FILLED TO THE BRIM WITH FLAVOUR

This veg-rich tart – drizzled with spinach pesto, is well worth the effort, and makes the perfect dinner

INGREDIENTS ½ tsp white peppercorns ½ tsp black peppercorns 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp cayenne 1 tsp dried thyme 2 bay leaves ½ tsp salt 2 tbsp neutral oil 2 smoked pork sausages, ideally andouille, but fresh Polish smoked sausages, smoked chorizo or would also do, cut into thick slices 4 bone-in chicken thighs 1 onion, finely chopped 1 red pepper, finely chopped 1 celery stick, finely chopped 4 spring onions, chopped 3 garlic cloves, crushed 800ml chicken or pork stock 1 tsp Tabasco or other hot sauce, plus extra to serve 300g long grain rice 300g large raw prawns 26

Serves: 4-6 ■ Preparation time: 15 Minutes Cooking time: 50 mins + 10 mins resting time METHOD ➊ Turn the heat to high and in a small dry pan toast the peppercorns, paprika and cayenne.

Grind them in a pestle and mortar until smooth. Add the thyme, bay leaves and salt then set one side. ➋ Lower the heat to medium and heat the oil in a lidded frying pan.

Add the sausage slices and cook until golden. Remove to drain on kitchen paper. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown, remove and place with the sausage. ➌ Add the onion, green pepper, the white parts of the spring onions, and garlic to the pan. Cook until soft and translucent, then stir in the spice mix and cook for another couple of minutes. Return the

chicken back into the pan and pour stock and Tabasco over everything. ➍ Lower the heat to allow the mixture to simmer for about 15 minutes until the chicken is tender.

Stir in the rice and simmer for a further 10 minutes. Stir everything once then cover with a tight lid, reduce the heat and steam gently for 15 minutes. Remove the chicken. Add the prawns and sausage, stir again, then replace the lid and leave to rest for 10 minutes. ➎ Meanwhile, shred the chicken then fold into the rested jambalaya, season to taste with salt and more Tabasco. Garnish with the spring onion greens.

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A testament to the benefits of an eye examination with Concept, is the growing number of patients, who have joined our eye care programme during the pandemic, prioritising their health and wellbeing. Concept Eye Clinic are independent leaders in vision correction, clinical screening and the management of early anterior and posterior eye conditions before it’s too late.

With the very latest Zeiss diagnostic instruments and lens portfolio, we’re delighted to bring back our DriveSafe lens campaign.

This is a life changing lens not just for the road but for your every day needs. It takes into account different light conditions and pupil sizes for natural vision. Quite simply this means you won’t miss a single detail on the road – even in rain, mist or at dusk.

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Call us 0191 296 6124 ■ Concept Eye Clinic, 25 Front St, Tynemouth, NE30 4DX concepteyeclinic.com

Ask Our Optometrist TYNEMOUTH Q. I struggle with driving in bad weather. I wear glasses but what can I do to protect my eyes and be safe?

We confidently recommend DriveSafe lenses by Zeiss, which is also an excellent everyday lens that excels in challenging driving situations such as poor light and dazzling headlights, to provide an accurate complete vision of the road.

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Zeiss DriveSafe Lenses

This lens has luminance design technology which means enhanced vision in low light conditions and up to 64% more reduced glare from oncoming cars. It also provides better re-focusing between your dashboard and mirrors and perception of contrast and colour.

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Q. Can I wear DriveSafe lenses all the time?

across our beautiful part of the world, it’s important that we keep on top of our vision and the health of our eyes. Many people feel uncomfortable

when

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Yes. Absolutely. These comfortable lenses made by Zeiss are specifically designed for spectacle wearers for every day use as well as the road. They are available in both single vision and progressive lens designs.

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31

ADVERTISING FEATURE

The Magical Consent Order

Jacqueline Emmerson, Managaing Director of Emmersons Solicitors, explains what she has learned during Covid-19

M

ost people who are going through a Divorce right now, or who have been divorced and have used a solicitor will have heard of a Consent Order.

As a Divorce Solicitor I see this as being the magical document. It is the end of a negotiated process and the document that protects you from further claims being made against you by your spouse. It is in many ways more important than a Decree Absolute.

What is a Consent Order?

Well the clue is in the name. It is an order of the court which sets out an agreement reached between you and your spouse in relation to your finances. The court expect the agreement to be fair taking into account your current assets, including housing, business assets, pensions, savings & investments, current income and any debts that you may have.

My simple aim is to swap financial information with my clients’ spouses solicitors. I say simple but there is often a lot of work involved to compile this information.

I will ask my client to provide written evidence in support of all those items that we are expected to disclose by way of full and frank disclosure. There is a list on the last page of what is known as Form E. Take a look and if you are about to begin divorce proceedings then compiling this information for your solicitor will save you a lot in legal fees. This form is used as a bench mark for the collection of information.

In particular I would expect to see all bank statements going back a year. That way I can look for unusual payments. One of my clients, “Christine” was sure that her husband was filtering money away. When I looked at his bank statements I could see money going out to another previously unknown account. I queried this and after following quite an audit trail it transpired that Christine’s husband owned another house, in which he frequently stayed with another woman and their secret child.

I might commonly spot sudden frequent amounts of cash being removed from an account in the months before one party says that they want the marriage to end. Or people frequently “forget” to mention their terminal grant received when leaving the armed forces.

Or the life policy that has an encashment value.

Regarding pensions, it is not good enough to just accept that the parties will split their pensions on a fifty fifty basis in the case of longer marriages. Let’s say two pensions are valued at 100,000 each. But if one of them is a civil service pension then the payment received for life may be far higher than a private pension. The

32

JACQUELINE EMMERSON

correct way to address the issue of valuable pensions is to have them valued by an actuary who can advise as to the % of pension which should be transferred to one party from the other.

The name Consent Order implies that everything runs smoothly and that there is no ongoing angst in the background. Sometimes this is not the case. The couple may not get along at all. There is often a huge disparity at the start of a case in relation to financial expectations. I may have a client who has been married for forty years and who decides that they are not going to give their spouse any of their pension. If that spouse has a low pension and very little by way of savings and income then I’m afraid that any court would see things differently. My job is to manage your expectations and those of your spouse and their solicitor. I have been a divorce lawyer for 30 years and I have a very good idea as to what a judge will and will not order by way of a Financial Settlement.

There are parameters within which judges will operate. There is no set formula for any of this. I have to advance the arguments that suit your circumstances and needs or those of your children. I always have in mind what a judge must consider if this matter were being heard at court. These are some of the criteria; • • • • •

income, earning capacity, property and other resources which each spouse has The standard of living enjoyed during the marriage The ages of each of the spouses and the length of the marriage Any physical or mental disability of either spouse or any child The financial needs of any child

If I can reach a settlement on your behalf, without the need to attend court then I would say that is the best option. You have just avoided the cost of court, the length of time it takes to finalise a matter and you will both probably feel a lot better as you will have been instrumental in negotiating a settlement rather than having one imposed upon you by the court.

If you require any help or advice relating to a financial settlement upon divorce then please don’t hesitate to contact me on 0191 2846989 Newcastle or je@emmersons-solicitors.co.uk

If your relationship has just ended we understand that you may feel lost or worried.

Relationship in difficulties?

Talk to the matrimonial specialist

EMMERSONS SOLICITORS has helped thousands of people in your situation.

You will find us to be very approachable. We can offer you help with divorce, separation, financial settlements, arrangements for children, pre-nuptial agreements and same sex partnerships.

Our well-trained staff can obtain the best settlement for you. Due to their experience, excellent negotiating skills and use of Round Table Meetings the vast majority of our clients never have to visit court.

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35

VOLUNTEERING

Could you be a Community Health Champion?

VODA is harnessing the power of North Tyneside residents as Community Health Champions to play a vital role in sharing up to date, trusted health messages with people they know and care about during the COVID-19 pandemic.

There is so much information out there in the public realm that it is easy for misleading and inaccurate information to spread. VODA is recruiting a network of Community Health Champions who can share accurate information with their networks as they go about their lives.

Community Health Champions will reach out to their local community to pass on important messages to their friends, neighbours, colleagues, customers and service users. This role can also be carried out from home with Community Health Champions sharing information with their virtual networks.

VODA’s new Community Health Champion lead Alice Holliday will provide the network of champions with clear and easily communicable health messages in the form of infographics, animations and easy read posters. VODA will also provide support when clarification is needed or if further signposting to existing community services is required.

Alice commented: “We’ve already had such a positive response from members of the local community from all walks of life wanting to become Community Health Champions, which is fantastic to see. I’m really excited to see the impact of working alongside communities to co-create methods of engaging residents to help keep everyone safe.”

This is a new and exciting opportunity which will provide an essential service by helping local residents to be better informed and more able to adapt to change and to minimise the spread of COVID-19.

36

It does not require a huge time commitment and each Community Champion will identify the groups or people they would like to share this information with so can fit in easily with daily life.

Newly recruited Champion Adam Gray, Community Missioner for St John’s Percy Main & St Peter’s Balkwell in North Shields commented on why he felt it was important to get involved: “It was the easiest decision to offer to get involved in the Community Health Champions project, as it seems like such a good opportunity to ensure our local communities get the best advice about keeping safe and healthy, and promptly. I know from experience that people have been confused as advice has changed, so if being able to help communicate up-to-date but down-to-earth information goes even a little way to combatting that, it feels worthwhile.”

On why VODA decided to create this new scheme, Robin Fry, Chief Executive at VODA said: “We believe that everyone who lives and works in North Tyneside has a role to play in helping to keep their communities safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABOVE: VODA’s new Community Health Champion lead Alice Holliday During recent months we have seen first-hand the incredible community spirit that exists in North Tyneside.

We're really excited to be trialling this new approach to harnessing the incredible caring commitment that exists across our borough.”

■ If you would like to be a Community Health Champion, find out more and sign up at voda.org.uk/champions. Or you can contact Alice Holliday at VODA on 0191 643 2626, email alice.holliday@voda.org.uk for more information.

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At Concept, our community and relationship with the environment is at the heart of what we do. We recycle old spectacles to reduce our plastic footprint and actively help address visual impairment for those that need us most. We believe that healthy eyes make all the difference to a person’s quality of life and dignity.

Simply bring your old glasses in (without the case) to help us collect for the 'Lion's Club' an international foundation to help those with vision loss. tel:

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41

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Bring your Polaroid Camera back to life

Do you have an old Polaroid camera languishing in a cupboard? Now is the perfect time to bring it back to life.

Polaroid Originals is the company that rose from the ashes of the discontinuation of Polaroid instant film in 2008 and is dedicated to analogue instant photography in the original, iconic format.

Back then, a number of chemical suppliers that existed solely to provide Polaroid with chemistry for film production went out of business. And over the course of the last decade some of the chemistry used in film production became unavailable for commercial use. Polaroid Originals faced the challenge of reinventing analogue instant photography with the chemistry available, and over the past nine years has been gradually improving the processing and quality of instant film.

Launched on September 13th, 2017, the 80th anniversary of the founding of Polaroid, Polaroid Originals makes instant film for Polaroid cameras, and refurbishes vintage cameras so they’re good as new.

If you don’t own a vintage Polaroid camera new cameras are available. The OneStep 2 is a new Polaroid camera that blends classic design with contemporary style. It’s inspired by Polaroid’s original OneStep, but updated to create a simple, easy-to-use instant camera that works straight out of the box – just pick up some i-Type instant film and you’re good to go. It’s got a high quality lens 42

and a powerful flash to give you great photos every time, and this newly improved Viewfinder model makes framing your photos even more intuitive than before. Plus with its long-lasting rechargeable battery, you’ll always be ready to shoot, whether you’re on a brief excursion or a journey round the world.

Now is the time to reacquaint yourself with instant analogue photography in an increasingly digital world.

Photographic retailer, FotoSnaps are your local stockist for Polaroid Originals products.

The Wallsend retailer offers a range of colour and black and white film for your vintage Polaroid camera, and they also have the new Polaroid OneStep 2 instant cameras available if you’re interested in starting a new hobby!

Call the shop or pop in store for more details.

FotoSnaps, 24 High Street East, Wallsend, NE28 8PQ. Tel: 0191 234 4606 www.fotosnapswallsend.co.uk

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43

BOOKS

A GOOD READ

By Willow Coby

ME BEFORE YOU

by Jojo Moyes

26-year-old Lou Clark still lives with her parents in the quiet market town she grew up in.

Almost deserted in the winter the town’s one draw is an old castle and when we meet Lou, she works in the local tea shop serving the coach loads of tourists who come to visit. With a quirky dress sense Lou never really feels as if she fits in and as a teenager longed to travel the world. However, circumstances meant that she could never bring herself to leave. After losing her job she reluctantly takes a job caring for Will, a young quadriplegic man injured in a motorcycle accident several years earlier. She is told the job is just for 6 months and despite a rough start she decides to stick it out and soon an unlikely bond develops between Lou and Will.

A romantic novel this also deals with the sensitive issue of disability and the descriptions of Will’s day to day life are well-written with brutal honesty and little sensationalism.

Things take a darker turn when Lou learns the reason why her contract is only to be for 6 months and she sets out to bring Will new experiences and remind him of the simple joys of life: not easy for a wheelchair bound man whose ideal way to pass the time before his accident was skydiving or climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

As a reader you are drawn into the lives of these characters and the development of their relationship is believable. In the hands of the wrong writer this plot line could turn out to be very twee and cliché but Moyes does not fall into this trap. The resulting novel is engaging, difficult to put down and will lead you to appreciate the small wonders of life.

SALVAGE THE BONES

by Jesmyn Ward

It was a storm that made headlines around the world. In August 2005 Katrina hit the Louisiana coast causing great loss of life and destruction to New Orleans and the surrounding area. This award-winning novel, set over a period of 12 days, tells the story of the Batiste family who live in the fictional town of Bois Sauvage.

Esch is 15 years old and lives with her three brothers and their father. Isolated from the rest of the small town due to the location of their house, they live in extreme 46

poverty, with a largely absent father who, seven years after the death of his wife, still relies on drink to get through the day. So, with the news of a category 5 storm is about to hit they begin to prepare what they can and stockpile a small amount of food.

Each chapter is one day in the build up to the storm.

Randall, the eldest is trying to do what he can to hold his family together. Skeetah is preoccupied with his pit-bull fighting dog, China, who has just given birth to puppies.

Junior, the youngest, is trying to hold his own against his older brothers. And Esch has just discovered that she is pregnant.

A captivating story with engaging characters, immerses you in their world, illustrated by a touch of Greek mythology thanks to a book that Esch (the narrator) is reading for school. The penultimate chapter will have your heart racing but ultimately this is the story of family love that survives despite the poverty and deprivation.

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS

by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars is the hugely successful teen novel exploring the impact of teenage cancer on the lives of two individuals. 16-year-old Hazel has cancer and is, reluctantly, convinced by her parents to attend a support group for others in her situation. Amongst the other patients there is Augustus, a 17-year-old boy who lost a leg to cancer. The two begin talking and agree to read each other’s favourite books.

Hazel’s book is a novel by a Dutch writer about a young girl with cancer: Hazel sees many parallels to her own life here.

Augustus is angry after reading the book and discovering that it doesn’t have a nicely wrapped up ending. There is no conclusion, no neat package, no ending: happy or otherwise.

Of course, life has an ending, but it often isn’t happy or neatly wrapped up. Hazel becomes aware of her fears about getting close to others. She is afraid that when she dies it will hurt them, and this naturally affects her relationship with Augustus.

This moving novel deals with issues that most of its teen readers won’t have yet faced in their lives. As a teenager you often feel immortal. You feel as if life is stretching out ahead of you Hazel and Augustus, along with the other young people at the support group view life differently.

There is no expectation that everyone will make it to the next meeting. No one is immortal.

This novel stays with you long after the closing paragraph.

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