Inside Bramhall Issue 67

inside february - march 2018

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Issue 67

bramhall

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inside b r a m h a l l “Don’t just think it, ink it. Written goals transform wishes into wants, dreams into plans, and plans into reality.”

What’s INSIDE this month

This quote dropped into my inbox recently and it struck me that it’s a great one for the new year. I know we’re already a month in but who says you can’t make a resolution anytime? You might want to achieve something tangible, such as ticking off an item on your bucket list, reaching a health and fitness goal or taking up a new hobby. Or you might seek to change the way you behave or respond to situations, such as trying to be more positive or kind.

4 simply books book club choice

Whatever your hopes and dreams are, making yourself accountable is one of the best ways to make sure they come true. Writing something down is a simple way of doing this but it’s not the only one.

Some people choose to tell the world their goals on social media, others just tell a few friends and family.

27 Lucy’s Travel Clinic

One thing is for sure - once it’s ‘out there’ you’re so much more likely to succeed.

6 Snowdrop Festival 8 barry’s gardening tips 11 Diary of a Geeky Knitter 12 Puzzles

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15 think japan in 2018 19 Bury Market 24 park lane recommends 28 The Walk

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33 In Touch 37 Just 4 Kids 38 Children’s Activities 43 INSIDE Guide 50 Puzzle Solutions 53 Useful Numbers 54 Classified Index

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Editor: Claire Hawker

Tel: 01625 879611

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Inside Magazines, 352a Park Lane, Poynton, Cheshire SK12 1RL. email: info@insidemagazines.co.uk www.insidemagazines.co.uk Walking in Bramhall Park

by Garth Aspinall.

Copy deadline for the next issue: monday 12 march

Inside Bramhall is produced by Inside Magazines Ltd. We cannot be held responsible for views expressed by contributors or any advert content, including errors or omissions, or endorse companies, products or services that appear in this magazine. We endeavour to ensure that all local information given in this magazine is accurate, but we cannot always guarantee this. © Copyright Inside Magazines Ltd 2018. Material from this magazine may not be reproduced without prior written permission from Inside Magazines Ltd.

Design and artwork by Spring Creative | www.spring-creative.co.uk | 01925 714203

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simply books

book club choice

My first pick this month is Cousins – a new novel by Salley Vickers. Her first novel, Miss Garnet’s Angel, became an international word-of-mouth bestseller and a favourite amongst book clubs – indeed it was one of the first books we read here at Simply Books with our original reading group (nearly 15 years ago!). In Cousins the author gives us a spellbinding account of a family in distress – exposing the inner workings of one family (possibly every family!) with disconcerting clarity. Will Tye and his cousin Cele are kindred spirits who have grown up together. But their very closeness keeps them at a troubled distance until one night of reckless misadventure – the consequences of which engulf three generations, laying bare secrets that stretch as far back as the Second World War. A serious, mature book that is also compellingly enjoyable. Salley Vickers will be talking about Cousins – and her other writing – when she visits us at Simply Books on Thursday 1 March. If you would like to come and meet her, please get in touch – or you can book tickets online at www.simplybooks.info My other book this month is a debut novel by Gail Honeyman, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine – a story about the worst and the very best that people are capable of, by turns funny, brave and thought-provoking. Eleanor leads a simple life. She wears the same clothes to work every day, eats the same meal for lunch every day and buys the same two bottles of vodka to drink every weekend. Eleanor Oliphant is happy. Nothing is missing from her carefully timetabled life. Except, perhaps, everything. But one single act of kindness is set to shatter the walls Eleanor has built around herself…

This is an unusual, quirky book – a book to make you laugh and cry; a life-affirming story about loneliness and the transformative power of even the smallest acts of kindness - and a worthy winner of this year’s COSTA First Novel of The Year Award.

And for the children…The Pirates of Scurvy Sands is a new pirate adventure from author/illustrator Jonny Duddle following the hilarious voyages of the Jolley-Rogers, the most intrepid pirates to sail the Seven Seas. Jonny will be joining us on Tuesday 20 February from 11am to 12 noon to read his stories – please get in touch to book tickets or book online at www.simplybooks.info

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Simply Books 228 Moss Lane, Bramhall, Cheshire SK7 1BD 0161 439 1436 Open Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 5.30pm Andrew Cant www.simplybooks.info

National Garden Scheme

THIRD ANNUAL SNOWDROP FESTIVAL

On a wintry day in February there is possibly no better activity than being in a National Garden Scheme garden surrounded by hundreds of flecks of white snowdrop heads, creating a carpet of glamour which is a spectacular sight to behold. In 2018, 100 gardens will open for the third annual National Garden Scheme Snowdrop Festival, some with as many as 300 named varieties of snowdrops.

Many gardens display a mix of snowdrops, hellebores and other early spring flowers, with the mix of colours making them beautiful to ‘galanthophiles’ and all.

George Plumptre, Chief Executive of The National Garden Scheme, says: “During our first Snowdrop Festival in 2016 many of our garden owners were overwhelmed by the amount of visitors that attended their openings. Many remarked that visitors were perfectly happy to wrap up warm and brave the elements to see the stunning view of hundreds of snowdrops on display in a garden.”

Visitors to Snowdrop Festival gardens will also have the benefit of knowing that their entrance fee is supporting wonderful causes; the National Garden Scheme currently donates around £3 million annually to their beneficiary charities, which include Marie Curie and Hospice UK.

Bucklow Farm

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by John Hinde www.ngs.org.uk

Details of all National Garden Scheme gardens opening for the Snowdrop Festival can be found at: www.ngs.org.uk/snowdrops

PARTICIPATING GARDENS Nationwide, over 80 gardens are involved in the NGS Festival. Local participants include:

BUCKLOW FARM Pinfold Lane, Plumley, nr Knutsford WA16 9RP Open 25 February 1pm to 3pm, £3.50, children free.

It’s just a short drive through the country lanes to this quirky English country garden, complete with the sight of free-range hens set against carpets of snowdrops and spring bulbs. See how Dawn and Peter Freeman have brightened up their winter garden with carefully selected plants providing colour from leaves, stems and berries to brighten the dullest winter day. Light refreshments available and, as a very welcome treat, mulled wine for inner warmth!

WEST DRIVE GARDENS Open 19 February, 1 to 3pm, £3, children free.

With displays of hellebores and snowdrops, here are two gardens of very different character, reflecting their

West Drive Gardens

owners’ gardening styles. Although suburban, they are surrounded by mature trees and have a secluded feel. There is a wildlife pond and other water features, though some inhabitants may be hiding if the weather is too chilly. Ceramics and containers with alpines complete the picture. Light refreshments.

RODE HALL - Church Lane, Scholar Green, ST7 3QP) Snowdrop Walks: 3 Feb - 4 March 11am to 4pm Tues- Sat (Closed Mon) Enjoy a beautiful end-of-winter walk for all the family in a wonderfully diverse landscape with over 70 varieties of Snowdrops – one of the largest displays in the country. The terraced rock garden and grotto area are carpeted in snowdrops in February followed by daffodils and bluebells. The tearooms are open serving homemade cakes, light lunches and refreshments. A roaring log-burner in the winter sets the scene.) For opening times and information, please phone 01270 873237, email enquiries@rodehall.co.uk or visit www.rodehall.co.uk Adults £5/Children £2/Under 5’s free.

Further afield If distance is no object, venture out towards the Wirral peninsula to visit Liz Carter’s NGS garden.

BRIARFIELD - The Rake, Burton, Neston,CH64 5TL Sat 24 & Sun 25 February 1pm to 4pm. Admission £3, children free.

One of NGS Cheshire’s most popular gardens, but traditionally a late Spring and Summer event. Liz’s garden is again part of this year’s snowdrop festival. You can also meet Liz in Neston Market each Friday morning, selling her rare and unusual plants (70% to NGS).

barry’s gardening tips february - march 2018

I’m writing this on a rather bleak January morning and trying to recall how the garden will look in a month or so… hopefully better than it does now. I still have a hedge or three to sort out before the birds begin their nest building. Some can start as early as March, so I need to get a shift on. There’s a 14-foot leylandii hedge running along one boundary, which fortunately backs on to the railway line, so I have no neighbours to complain about the lack of light. I also happen to like trains. I cut this once a year using just a ladder with a wooden plank tied across the top to spread the weight as I lean it into the hedge. This is gradually moved along and on a good day I can do it in around 5 hours (plus tea breaks of course). Sounds like hard work and it is, but the sense of satisfaction at the sight of that crisply cut, big green block is well worth it - and knowing I have a whole 12 months before I have to do it again is even better!

Speaking of cutting down large things, I have several Fatsia japonica plants which are beginning to take up more than their fair share of space. I love their tropicallooking leaves and robust nature. They thrive in a shady corner and do well in pots (don’t forget the watering).

They look particularly good with the leylandii hedge as a backdrop but the biggest is now around 7 feet tall and you have to walk under its canopy to get past. This is creating a lot of shade and the leaves funnel rain water down your neck as you walk beneath. So, using loppers and a small pruning saw I cut the main stems by 50% this week. In the spring they will sprout from the cut ends. One more job done.

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Another pruning task to do around now is the Mahonia.

They will have finished flowering by the time you read this so it’s the perfect opportunity to lop the tallest stems. You can take them down pretty low if necessary and they’ll shoot back. A tough plant. Another toughie is Wisteria, which can sometimes cause a little confusion. In winter you can see the structure much more easily without the foliage, so January and February are good months to prune. Shorten each of the whippy stems (the long ones that you pruned to 5 or 6 leaves in summer after flowering - you did do that didn’t you?) back to 2 or 3 buds. This keeps the plant tidy and the flowers are less likely to be obscured by leaves.

If you’re the lazy type you can forget the summer prune altogether and just cut back (to 2 or 3 buds) around now. Your plant will look messy and be heavier going into the autumn, which means it is more like to be damaged by high winds, so you make your choice.

Might be worth noting all this down in your diary so you remember to do it.

There is no point mentioning snowdrops (but I already have, so I’ll carry on) as they will probably be on their way out by now but hopefully you managed to bulk-up your collection with a few more pots from the nursery (or garden centre). I ordered 100 plants from a local place (Prestbury nursery). They are grown nearby, lifted and delivered on the same day. I get a phone call, pick them up and plant them on that same day. It’s cheaper to buy them this way. You could put that in your diary for next year as well.

Well this bleak morning has turned into a bleak afternoon but there are 101 things to be done out there, so I’d better get that wooden plank out of the shed… if I cut out the tea breaks I may even get the hedge cut before it gets dark!

by Barry Davy email: barry.davy@ntlworld.com

Diary of a geeky knitter Hello dear readers – here’s hoping you made it out on the other side of Christmas with success and a smile, and that you welcomed in the New Year in style!

I’m looking forward to new and exciting challenges coming in 2018, as well as getting stressed out even more excited for my (now fast approaching) nuptials in October. I’m sure you will get tired of me mentioning it soon, but until that time, it’s safe to assume I will bring it up at least a couple more times.

Just a couple of Norwegian men

Knock your socks off Before we look forward to 2018, © Practical Publishing Ltd. can I take a moment of your time to quickly glance over your shoulder back at November 2017, because it was in this month that I had my first full knitting pattern published in one of the magazines I work on, Knit Now! I knitted these socks (glamorouspublishing-world-alert – those are actually my feet too!

Very last minute photography) using a wool that was specially dyed in order to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Unfortunately, the limited-edition wool is totally sold out now (probably not down to my feet, much as I wish it were) but you can still buy the pattern in issue 81 of Knit Now which you can find online at www.moremags.com if you are interested! They were a lot of fun to knit and design, and I look forward to having a few more patterns published next year, so watch this space!

Around the same time that my pattern was out on the shelves in your local supermarket, I attended an event at a wool shop in Warrington (the knitters reading this might have heard of Black Sheep Wools) which was an evening of ‘hygge’ with Arne & Carlos – an internationally acclaimed pair of knitting designers and, in effect, woolly superstars. Don’t let it be said that I’m nothing if not committed to my interests. The talk was wonderful! They spoke about their journey into the industry, and their life in Norway, living in a disused railway station that they renovated for their little corner of Scandinavian heaven, on the edge of the most gorgeous lake I have ever seen, with pine tree forests for miles around. I was blown away by their charm, and the chance to get excited over knitting with a room full of ladies as excited as I was! If you have always fancied attending an event or workshop that you were unsure of before, I can’t recommend that you get out and do it enough; particularly if it’s something you are passionate about! Keep checking your INSIDE Guide for what’s going on near you.

For now, I wish you all the very best for 2018 – I’m off to price up just how much exactly it would cost to move to Norway to knit and drink wine all day long… jennythegeekyknitter@gmail.com www.thegeekyknitter.co.uk www.etsy.com/uk/shop/geeksgamesandknits

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quick crossword Across 7. Medicine Man (6) 8. Let Go (6) 9. Rally (4) 10. Borrow (8) 11. Pursuit(7) 13. Explorer (5) 15. Brewing (5) 16. Honest (7) 18. Paltry (8) 19. Urban Area (4) 21. Brogue (6) 22. Dried Fruit (6)

down 1. Sneaker (4) 2. Eloquent (6-7) 3. Slope (7) 4. Anthropoid (5) 5. Bathroom Divider (6,7) 6. Perpetual (8) 12. Out Of Doors (8) 14. The Big Apple (3,4) 17. Effervescence (5) 20. Impulse (4)

sudoku How to play Sudoku Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the numbers 1 through to 9 with no repetition.

You don’t need to be a genius. These puzzles use logic alone.

Watch out! Sudoku is highly addictive.

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Solutions on page 50

Think Japan… in 2018 Think Japan and images of Mount Fuji, The ‘Bullet Train’ sushi, sumo, beautiful gardens and geisha spring to mind. Whilst it is a modern country, embracing new technology, it embraces its history and culture and the two aspects make for an exciting holiday experience.

WHEN TO VISIT Early spring in Japan with the opportunity to see the cherry blossom is the most popular time to visit, which makes it very sought after (and expensive), so we recommend booking early if this appeals; later in the spring beautiful irises are in bloom. However, don’t overlook a visit in autumn; the acers are in fantastic colour at that time of year and just as stunning as the cherry blossom. The summer months are often the best time to see right to the top of Mount Fuji, when you can climb to the summit, or take an overnight ascent timed to see the sun rise over the distant horizon.

CITIES The two most popular cities on a first-time itinerary are of course Tokyo and Kyoto. Flying into Tokyo, two or three nights is essential here to see both the historic side of the city in Asakusa, and modern Shinjuku with its soaring skyscrapers and bright neon lights. From Toyko it is easy to include a day trip to Nikko, home of the vast Toshogu complex of temples and shrines, built in the 1600s and with magnificent carvings including iconic “see-no-evil, hear-no-evil” monkeys. Kyoto,

Japan’s capital of history and culture, is home to a number of World Heritage Sites. Take a tour with expert guides, enjoy the company of a Geisha, and see the beautiful gardens and traditional arts of the city. A day trip to nearby Nara with its giant statue of Buddha and friendly sacred deer is also not to be missed.

THE ‘BULLET TRAIN’ … or Shinkansen as it is more properly known, is another highlight of a tour to Japan, and takes you around the country in record time, with speeds of up to 200km/hour. Not just between these two cities, many places can be accessed by rail, and a rail pass can be included in your tour price.

THE FOOD It’s not just raw fish and sushi, though these are a delicacy very much worth trying, there are plenty of Continued over

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other options too. Noodles for instance, are very popular as is the delicious street food. Okonomiyaki is a kind of special omelette made with pan-fried cabbage, fried shrimp and different kinds of meats – and it’s absolutely wonderful. If you are still unsure, most of the major hotels will serve a western menu if you prefer.

SPECIAL PlaCES TO SEE AND STAY Most hotels are in the western style, but for a truly authentic experience, a stay in a ryokan is a must; experience traditional Japanese lifestyle and hospitality including futon beds, Japanese style baths and local cuisine. Beautiful gardens, almost an art form in Japan, walking, cycling and enjoying the ‘onsen’ – hot springs – are just a few of the delightful outdoor activities available, and sumo, geisha and contemporary arts unmissable attractions indoors. In Nagoya, it is even possible to arrange a visit to the Toyota factory, the biggest of Japan’s car factories – a must for all car fanatics.

JAPAN FOR FAMILIES Children will love the theme parks, from Universal Studios and Hello Kitty to the famous Japanese Anime creations as well as aquariums and monkey parks.

Away from the cities, samurai castles, boat rides, cycle tours and cable cars will delight the whole family.

Hands-on cultural activities such as taiko drumming, pottery and paper crafts, or dressing up in a kimono will see the children really getting under the skin of Japan.

Clearly, Japan has something for everyone, whether a tailor-made tour, an escorted group, or a family holiday, we can arrange the perfect trip for you. Phone us on 01625 584195, or call in to Travel by Design, in Alderley Edge.

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by Kristina Hulme travelbydesigngroup.com

bury’s world famous market

A DAY OUT WITH A DIFFERENCE!

Bury Market is the biggest and arguably the best market in the North West. So much so that it has acquired the label ‘Bury’s World Famous Market’ from the many customers all over the world who keep coming back to visit.

This market had been on our radar for quite some time and it was Saturday 2 December, at 10.30am, when we spontaneously decided to visit this much revered shopping mecca. And to add a little extra interest to our day (as if we needed it) we decided to travel by Metrolink tram.

We shot out of the house, parked our car at East Didsbury terminus car park, set off in the waiting tram, changed very efficiently at Exchange Square Manchester and arrived one hour later at our destination.

As our tram swept through central Manchester we were struck by the ubiquitous Christmas decorations, stalls and struggling crowds and began to wonder whether Bury Market would be similar - perhaps a little too much to endure. But we had worried needlessly. As we walked towards the market it became clear that, despite a few seasonal touches, Bury Market needed no such atmospheric support. It simply oozes charisma, with an atmosphere all its own, and you will get this all year round.

Bury Market dates back to 1444 but the current site has only been occupied since the 1970s. There are three main venues: the Market Hall which was rebuilt in 1971 following a devastating blaze two years previously, The Fish and Meat Hall which opened in the late ‘90s on the site of a former bank, and the covered Open Market with over 300 stalls.

by Garth Aspinall

The Fish and Meat Hall The centrepiece of Bury Market is undoubtedly the Fish and Meat Hall which is an eye-catching, lively, modern market building, built in an oval shape and constructed of steel and glass with large projecting canopies that afford a high degree of weather protection to the shop units that string its external perimeter.

Here you will encounter Morecambe Bay potted shrimps, succulent steaks sourced from local farms and seasonal game birds brought to market straight from regional estates. From further afield, fresh tuna and monkfish are available. We were thoroughly entertained by the theatre of the stallholders shouting out their wares and announcing the ‘deals of the day’. This hubbub is a stark contrast to the sterile environment of the modern supermarket; high street butchers and fishmongers are becoming a rare sight in modern towns and cities and the collection of skills and produce on offer within this one building is a reminder of what a pleasurable experience shopping for fresh food can be. And the prices are frankly amazing!

The Open Market The outdoor Open Market has over 300 stalls offering a wide range of goods from clothing and soft furnishings to garden plants and electrical items. Most of the aisles are covered with polycarbonate roofs which bring great weather protection without losing the outdoor feel.

This part of the market, particularly noted for its wide array of locally grown and world foods, has won numerous Continued over

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awards for its food offer. Bury Market is of course famous for black pudding and Chadwick’s is the original stall.

Choose from lean, vegetarian, chilli and chocolate, smoked cheese and ham, and bacon and leek. They sell thousands a week and blood sausage lovers can buy them hot to eat there and then.

The Open Market also has a wide selection of cafes and takeaways offering everything from fish and chips to Greek mezes. We paused for a while at Peter’s Café and thoroughly enjoyed a simple beef and onion bap, tea and scones.

Market Hall The 60 indoor market stalls offer a wide variety of goods and services including giftware, hardware, linens, haberdashery, clothing, electrical goods, food, hairdressing, manicures, shoe repairs, key cutting and more. It is also linked to the adjacent Mill Gate Shopping Centre which has a further 140 shops and stores to visit.

Getting There and Back!

How you travel might well depend on what you want from your visit. If you’re going mainly to savour the atmosphere, then choose between tram and car. The Metrolink stop is adjacent to the market. A car journey

will take you between 30 and 40 minutes and there are several car parks, including The Market Car Park (Satnav BL9 0RN). It’s probably wise to go by car if you’re planning to take advantage of the amazing prices available; a shopping trolley wouldn’t go amiss either unless you are septuagenarians like ourselves and are precious about your youthful image!

With more space I could wax eloquent about the many famous stalls that you will encounter on your way. I could also tell you about Bury College whose catering students, by all accounts, can lay on a delicious lunch. Ring 0161 280 8624 for further information.

It would be wrong to call our sortie ‘a day out’ (more like a whistle-stop tour). We were home by 5pm. But what an enjoyable adventure! For many, even a whole day might not be enough. Once you’ve been and counted the cost (or should I say the savings) you are likely to make it a habit.

Opening Times The Fish and Meat Hall opens Monday to Saturday with a half day on Tuesday. But the best days to visit are the three full market days on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday when all the stalls should be open. www.burymarket. com Bury Market Office 0161 253 6520

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Here at Uniquely Chic Furniture we source and sell quality pine, oak, vintage and shabby chic furniture.

We have a vast range of stock which changes constantly. New pieces arriving almost daily.

We also paint furniture. Our painting team are experts at transforming our furniture, or yours, into hand painted, individual, unique pieces. If you have a favourite or inherited piece that fits your space why not have it upcycled and uplifted in our workroom? We occasionally buy your furniture or sometimes we even do part exchanges, so why not pop in and see us, or email us.

As well as furniture, we also sell lighting, mirrors, shabby chic home accessories and gifts. New and returning customers always use the same two phrases when they visit...”Aladdin’s Cave” and “Treasure Trove”! We are open 6 days a week, including weekends. Come and visit us, you never know what you will find when you step through the door.

Canalside, Goyt Mill, Upper Hibbert Lane, Marple SK6 7HX Tel: 0161 484 5116 or 07785 794308 Email: uniquelychicfurniture@hotmail.co.uk www.uniquelychicfurniture.co.uk Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10-5.30pm Sunday 11-4.30pm Closed Mondays (except Bank Holidays) @be_uniquelychic

@shabbychicuk Official stockists of Frenchic ecofriendly chalk paint and accessories.

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Park House Recommends Gisburn Forest About 10 miles scenic drive from us is Gisburn Forest, which is a great place for walking and off-road cycling.

From the car park at Park House turn left and after a couple of hundred yards take the right turn signposted Bolton-by-Bowland. Drive into Bolton-by-Bowland, continue through the village (take a note of The Coach and Horses Pub which is great for lunch). Turn right at the Copy Nook Pub then follow signs for Slaidburn until you come to a fork in the road. Continue right until you reach a cross roads where you go straight across into the start of Gisburn Forest. Drive for half a mile and then turn right into The Hub where you will find a great café and parking. There are three cycle routes – easy, moderate and one for only the fittest and lots of lovely walks through the forest.

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Holden Clough Garden centre and Garden Kitchen Café On your way to Gisburn Forest, or when returning, why not call at Holden Clough run by John Foley who was BBC young gardener of the year. Well worth a visit. The Garden Kitchen Café is renowned for its Picnic Table Afternoon Teas – though you may have to book in advance!

Coach and Horses at Bolton by Bowland This Inn has just undergone a total refurbishment and has a lovely bar and restaurant – another tempting proposition.

Lucy’s travel clinic Easter Holiday Destinations With the school holidays approaching it can be a challenge deciding where to go for sunshine and family fun. If you want somewhere a little alternative for your Easter break this year, here are some ideas: Cyprus – with Easter being early this year Cyprus is probably one of the best options for mild, beach friendly weather this March. The island has really had a facelift in recent years. Choose to stay in Limassol with its elegant old quarter or Paphos which is a popular, relaxed resort.

Montenegro – Croatia’s little sister, this beautiful country has started to make a real impact. With more direct flights becoming available to Tivat, Montenegro is now more open to UK visitors. Just as pretty as Croatia but not as busy, this could be a great option.

A clever idea might be to stay most of the holiday in Montenegro but visit the popular city of Dubrovnik (in Croatia) for a night. Transfers can be easily arranged.

Mauritius – if you’re prepared to go long haul, this paradise island offers glorious white sand beaches, a great variety of watersports for the teenagers and is safe for swimming with the little ones. Most of the luxury hotels operate great kids’ clubs and have a varied activities programme; treasure hunts, cookery classes, golf lessons.

Of course, there are the classics too like Majorca and the Canaries which offer a great choice of hotels for families. Majorca has beautiful beaches and pretty, traditional villages inland. Palma is also a wonderful, vibrant city for a day trip. In the Canaries you can’t go wrong with Tenerife where there’s lots to keep the whole family occupied (and nice spas for mum!)

Remember, availability is limited so contact your local travel consultant today. Also, always make sure you have valid travel insurance and that your holidays are ABTA protected.

Lucy Allen - Personal Travel Consultant 07512 784700 www.notjusttravel.com/waiting-world

A STROLL AROUND RAINOW This walk is quite short, just under 5 miles, with no steep hills and quite well-defined paths.

Use the White Peak map, Ordnance Survey outdoor leisure 24, or Explorer 268. Map Ref. SJ 762952 The walk starts from Smithy Lane, adjacent to the Robin Hood Pub. Rainow is an old parish and straddles the road from Macclesfield for some distance. Originally in Anglo Saxon times it was called Ravenho (the hill of the Ravens.)

We walked down Hope Lane, just past the Robin Hood Inn, turning right into Sugar Lane, then passing a fairly new but small housing development and soon left the metalled road to go right past the footpath sign, along an ancient flagged path behind a row of terraced cottages. We passed through a narrow squeeze stile and crossed a small stream running through an area called Hayle’s Clough. On our left could be seen a garden, originally laid out by a wealthy mill owner called James Mellor, sometime in the mid nineteenth century beside his house, still called Hough Hole House. Not only was he a successful business man but also a devout follower of the popular but small Swedenborgian Christian sect, it flourished up to the early 1970’s. The gardens were laid out to follow the

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story of ‘A Pilgrim’s Progress,’ written by John Bunyan.

These gardens used to be opened to the public once a year, but this practice seems to have been unfortunately discontinued, at the time the gardens were a delight.

Parts of the garden can be seen on the left-hand side of the path, as well as a small reservoir with rowing boat visible through the bushes.

Passing through a metal gate the path then goes across fields laid with stone slabs where the mill workers from Rainow would pass to work at the Waulkmill cotton mill just past Waulkmill Wood. As one walks on the path, the distinctive cone of White Nancy can be seen, on the left at the top end of Kerridge Ridge. After emerging from the wood, a distinctive old mill road is reached and there is a plaque on the wall of a house on the right with the inscription ‘Waulkmill Farm.’ To the left is a man-made waterfall which presumably fed a waterwheel to power the mill. Nothing remains of the mill workings except the rather silted up ponds of the

water supply above the waterfall. The path then widens slightly and goes along Ingersley Vale, alongside a small stream. This area obviously was planned for redevelopment, there is a decaying stone mill building, was once Ingersley Mill, which covers a very extensive area. Work on this large, presumably housing, project had started but was abandoned for some reason a few years ago, this would have been what is known as a ‘brown site development,’ but it is still awaiting development.

After this the path swings to the right past a wooden single storey building, going slightly uphill and it can be rather muddy in places. When it levels out after a short distance a distinctive sign with the inscription ‘Savio House’ on it can be seen on the right. This is now a catholic religious retreat but originally was called Ingersley Hall, the home of the Gaskell Family from the late 1600s to 1933 when the estate was broken up.

It was the Gaskell family who built White Nancy as a summerhouse situated at the end of Kerridge Ridge.

The family members must have been either very fit, or had help from their servants to get there, as the summerhouse was some distance away and up a steep track. It is doubtful if the author Elisabeth Gaskell was related to this family. On the left can be found the Poachers Inn, a popular start point for walks around Bollington and the surrounding areas.

Ignoring murmurs of protest from some of the group who wished to visit it, we instead crossed the road and walked uphill along Smithy Brow. At the top we turned left and went downhill along Spuley lane until a narrow road appeared on the right, which we took.

The Walk

This is known as ‘the hedgerow,’ and is a pleasant path through woodland. Just after the turning we passed a building called ‘Cheshire Hunt Cottages.’ Originally this was a popular pub called ‘The Cheshire Hunt,’ but before then it was believed to have been called ‘The Cat and Fiddle.’ The pub closed some 12 years ago, and was converted to holiday cottages.

The narrow road was followed for about two miles until it ended in a group of cottages and the road obviously was only used for access to the houses. A clearly marked stile on the right was crossed into a field and a faint path over the grass bearing right was followed until another small stile was crossed into the next field.

Soon after a small gate was reached which we went through onto another farm track where we turned right and walked slightly uphill. This track passes Billinge Hill on the right and then the road known as Blaze Hill was reached which we crossed, after a short distance of about a mile, another rough farm track was reached by turning left then immediate right.

We walked for about another half mile along the stony narrow road until yet another junction was reached where a well-situated seat had been positioned with views over the valley. Some of the group immediately took advantage of the seat to rest and admire the view over the valley and the Blaze Hill road. Some of them can be seen resting although there had not been any hills to tire them. At this point we ignored the sign to Rainowlow, which was directly ahead, instead turning left along Jumper Lane, which eventually became Smithy Lane. The road improved with a tarmaced surface suitable for cars, but luckily this was little used, and we soon arrived back at the Robin Hood.

Details of the Rainow area from Rainow Parish Council are at www.rainowvillage.co.uk This gives footpath maps and local information.

Poynton Rambling Club has over 100 members with walks on Wednesdays and Sundays. It caters for walkers of all abilities and varies from easy to strenuous, with distances between 5 and 12 miles.

For further details visit the website at www.poynton ramblers.org.uk

By Peter Jaques > Poynton Rambling Club

29

Bramhall Art Society

meets at the Bramhall Village Club every Wednesday morning and welcomes enquiries from anyone interested in joining the group.

Our Annual Exhibition, which this year will be held in April, is a showcase for members work and provides an opportunity to purchase original paintings direct from the Artists.

For more information contact John Minnikin, Chairman jminnikin.bas@gmail.com

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in touch your local community noticeboard february - march 2018

REMEMBERING SS STOCKPORT Every year in February, a service is held at Norbury Parish Church to remember the gallant crew of The SS Stockport, which disappeared in the North Atlantic sea on 25 February 1943.

Many a man alive today owes his life to the SS Stockport, a vessel which had been chartered from the Admiralty and used as a convoy rescue ship. During her short career, SS Stockport saved more lives than any other vessel in service - on one voyage she saved more than seven torpedoed ships in one day. The crew showed excellent team spirit which reflected in their work and was tragically reinforced when the courageous men went down with the ship on that fateful night. Records state that she was sunk by German U boat U604, while picking up survivors in the Atlantic; two torpedoes hit her bow and neither she, or her crew, were ever seen again.

Stockport in about 1911 doing what she was designed for – taking holiday makers from Grimsby to the Hook of Holland and Germany for holidays.

A model of the Stockport when she was converted to a Convoy Rescue Ship.

Before this the 30-year-old Stockport had saved hundreds of survivors from torpedoed vessels - including 350 from ships lost in attacks on convoy SC107 in October 1942. The Stockport had also been in action the previous August with the destroyer Viscount to locate and drive away the German Veilchem from the edges of convoy ON 122. Her peacetime job had been to ferry holiday makers across to Holland for the London North Eastern Railway, but the 1600 tonne ship, with a top speed of 13 knots, was finally sought out by Hitler’s U-boat fleet.

Despite claims that the SS Stockport was a struggling ship, out of its depths in a war dominated by younger more powerful ships, it was one of the most valiant and professional ships in the Royal Navy, and the spirit of its brave men alone helped carry it through the turbulent waters of war.

The service this year will be held on Sunday 25 February and will be followed by a march past, then lunch at the Conservative Club with the Mayor of Stockport and invited guests. These include relatives of the crew who were lost, retired seamen from various parts of the north west and members of the British Legion.

The event is organised by the Royal Naval Association Hazel Grove and District branch which meets on the first Monday of the month at Hazel Grove Conservative Club as well as celebrating different Naval occasions throughout the year.

Continued over

33

in touch - your local community noticeboard

North Cheshire Photographic Society Annual Exhibition Come and see a fantastic display of photographs produced by the North Cheshire Photographic Society! Our exhibition of members images in Poynton Civic Centre will be open to the public from 10am until 4pm on Thursday 22 and Friday 23 March with free admission. In the evenings of 22nd and 23rd we will be hosting our major photographic competitions featuring the best images from clubs all over the North West and beyond, and all are welcome.

Wednesday 21 March evening: North Cheshire Challenge Interclub Print Competition in the evening.

Thursday 22 March: Exhibition open and North Cheshire Challenge Interclub Digital Knock out Competition in the evening.

Friday 23 March: Exhibition open. Members only Exhibition Dinner and Awards Presentation in the evening.

For more information visit www.ncps.org.uk, entry to the exhibition is free.

ALDERLEY EDGE FESTIVAL SYLLABUS AVAILABLE The Alderley Edge Festival is over 100 years old – quite an achievement! We welcome all performers, their teachers, families and friends. In 2018 the Alderley Edge Festival of Music, Speech and Drama will take place from 8 to 12 May in six different venues in Alderley Edge. This annual event attracts over 2,500 participants in its varied classes for music - solo, choral, piano, woodwind and brass, strings and vocal for all age groups.

There are also many classes in Speech and Drama for all age groups.

The closing date is 9 February for paper entries, 16 February for online entries. www.alderleyedgefestival.com

CORRECTION Dear Sir, I feel the need to correct the author and Peak Ranger re the article entitled “A Cracking Walk to the Edge” in the Nov-Dec issue which refers to Peep O’Day Farm.

I am the owner of the property referred to, Peep O’Day Farm situated at the top of Maynestone Road, Chinley and can confirm categorically that the small east facing window referred to in the shape of a human eye very much exists and has not been removed nor ever will be! I have positioned a poster outside my house on Maynestone Road for people to read, as many people stop on their walks to ask me the origins of the name.

My research has led me to believe this is the most likely explanation and I believe the eye and inscription was incorporated to commemorate the name when this part of the building was built by the owners in 1841. Hope this clears up any confusion.

Dave Botham

34

Peep O Day East Elevation showing eye window

37

Answers: bacon, fried egg, coffee, toast, baked beans, sausage. Extra letter answer: orange

just 4 kids

Children’s Activities Things to do with pre-school kids

Monday

thursday

Story Time 11-11.30am Bramhall Library. Telephone 0161 217 6009

Little Lambs Baby & Toddler Group 10-11.30am Term time only, Bramhall Baptist Church, Woodford Road.

Toys, refreshments and song time. Suggested donation of £1.50 per family. Just turn up or for more information email bramhallbaptistchurch@gmail.com

Tuesday Active Angels 10-11.30am - Term time only Free play and songs including puppets and musical instruments and parachute fun also. Healthy snacks and refreshments for children and hot and cold beverages for adults. St Michael & All Angels Parish Church, Bramhall. Contact Karina: 07969633654 or Karina_lemmon@live.co.uk Tiny Thinkers 1.30pm - Term time only Tiny Thinkers provides stimulating and fun activities to help your child learn the basic skills required for starting school. St Michael’s church, Bramhall, SK7 2PG. 2½ -4years, adaptable activities. £6.50 per class (trial session free). Contact Karina Lemmon: Karina_lemmon@live.co.uk Tel: 07969633654 Find us on Facebook - facebook.com/Tinythink/ Story Time 2-2.30pm Cheadle Hulme Library. Telephone 0161 217 6009.

WFA Little Strikers Pre-School Football 10-11am 18 months – 4 years Term time only. Brookdale Theatre, Bridge Lane, SK7 3AB. £6 per session, no pre-booking required. Contact Erik on 07792 791382.

Wednesday BMC Baby Chat 10.30-11.45am Term-time only. Bramhall Methodist Church, Bramhall Lane South.

Come and join us every Wednesday morning for a chat, tea/coffee and biscuits and the opportunity to meet other mums, grandparents and carers with young babies in the Bramhall area. There’s a small charge of £1 per adult. For further details please call 0161 439 1204.

Tiny Thinkers 10.00am - Term time only Term time only. Tiny Thinkers provides stimulating and fun activities to help your child learn the basic skills required for starting school.

Let Loose, Hazel Grove, SK7 5DP. 2½-4years, adaptable activities. £6.50 per class (trial session free). Contact Karina Lemmon: Karina_lemmon@live.co.uk Tel: 07969633654. Find us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Tinythink/

38

Tiny Thinkers 1.30pm - Term time only Let Loose, Hazel Grove, SK7 5DP. 2½ -4years, adaptable activities. £6.50 per class (trial session free). Contact Karina Lemmon: Karina_lemmon@live.co.uk Tel: 07969633654

friday Baby Massage & Yoga – morning Bramhall Library Children’s Centre. Combined class run by The Baby Massage Company & Honeychild Baby Yoga. Email babylovesmassage@live.co.uk or call Kate on 07866 468245 for class times and to book (necessary).

Toddler Group 10-11.30am Cheadle Hulme United Reformed Church, Swann Lane. £1 per child including refreshments. Contact Alison Stevens 01625 877180.

Little Fishes Toddler Group for under 5’s - 10-11.30am Term-time only, Bramhall Methodist Church, Bramhall Lane South.

For more information contact Angela Fixter on 01614391204 or email angelafixter@hotmail.co.uk NCT (National Childbirth Trust) 10-11.30am St Michael & All Angels Parish Church, Bramhall. Contact Tracy Howe on 0161 477 3252

saturday Who Let the Dads Out? 10-11.30am Every 3rd Saturday of the month, Bramhall Methodist Church.

A play session for dads, grandads and male carers and their pre-school aged children. Messy play, games, a room full of toys, followed by bacon butties, tea and coffee for dads, and drinks and biscuits for the children. For further details and dates please contact Jo@bramhallmethodists.org.uk

Sunday Messy Church. Second Sunday of every month 4-6pm Bramhall Methodist Church, Bramhall Lane South.

See Inside Guide or call 0161 439 1204.

Compiled by Clare Blackie > email: c.blackie@insidemagazines.co.uk

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inside guide

february - march 2018

selected events in your area

Thursday 1 February

Wednesday 7 February

Baby Book Club at Simply Books Perfect for 0 - 3 year olds, our Baby Book Club is a 20 minute session of stories and rhymes. Meet new people, have a browse in the shop and enjoy a drink in the cafe and a slice of delicious homemade cake! £5 per family (up to 2 children) which includes a complimentary drink and £2 towards a children’s book. Next session: Thursday 1 March Simply Books, Bramhall 2pm

Coffee and Conversation at Simply Books.

Join Andrew for half-an-hour of lively conversation about books in the news. Hear what’s happening in the shop and pick up suggestions for a few ‘good reads’! Price £2.50 (towards your coffee and homemade cake!) (Coffee and Conversation usually takes place on the FIRST Wednesday of each month so we’ll be meeting again on 7 March) Simply Books, Bramhall 11am

Thursday 1 February

Wednesday 7 February

Would you like to meet new friends? Are you over 50 and single? Thursday Group is a friendship group for men and women, with several activities run by the members every week. These include walking, dancing, badminton, theatre and restaurant visits. For more info, see www.thursdaygroup.co.uk, or ring Mike on 07860 396286, or just come along to new members night on the first Thursday in each month where you will be met by group members.

The Bulls Head Pub, 30 Wilmslow Road, Handforth SK9 3EW 8.30pm

Craft and Chatter A fortnightly get together for crafters of all kinds, card making, quilting, collage, embroidery, sewing and any other interests you might have. Bring your own project and enjoy good crafting company with a cuppa and cake, and the opportunity to learn from each other. Contact Chrissie 0161 439 8262 for further details. £2 donation requested. Also on 21 Feb, 7 March, 21 March.

Dean Row Chapel Hall, Adlington Road, SK9 2BX 2pm

Friday 2 February Café y Conversacion at Simply Books. A conversation group for anyone interested in improving their Spanish! Join us for informal Spanish conversation over coffee and cake with local Spanish teacher Liz Wilson. £5 (includes refreshments) (Cafe y Conversacion meets at 11am on the first Friday of each month) Simply Books, Bramhall 11am

Saturday 3 February Cheshire Sinfonia - Beautiful Music in Bramhall.

Beethoven: Overture Leonora no. 3; Sibelius: Violin Concerto – soloist Andrew Long; Brahms: Symphony no. 4 in E minor. Tickets: £12 (Full), £10 (concessions), £3 (students) Reserved tickets available in advance from 07967 852986 or at the door.

St Michael’s Parish Church, Robins Lane, Bramhall, 7.30pm

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Call 01625 879611 or email info@insidemagazines.co.uk for further details.

THURSDAY 8 FEBRUARY LINK Women’s Fellowship are holding an Afternoon Tea Party.

Will regular visitors please ensure they have a ticket or let June Nightingale (440 0570) know they will be coming so that adequate catering can be organised.

Bramhall Methodist Church (Bramhall Village Centre) 2.30pm

Thursday 8 February Family History Society Bramhall Group Looking at Old Family Photos with David Guyton. A welcome return by David, helping us interpret and date heirloom photos. Admission £2 with refreshments, visitors always welcome. More information 0161 439 5021 or email bramhall@fhsc.org.uk Main Hall, United Reformed Church, Bramhall SK7 2PE 7.30pm

Saturday 10 February Barnby Choir Singing Day led by Keith Orrell.

A Little Jazz Mass by Bob Chilcott. Singing ticket cost of £20 includes music hire, morning coffee and afternoon tea.

Students welcome at a cost of £5 Please call Ann Elphick on 01625 583752 for further information or visit www. thebarnbychoir.co.uk Wilmslow Methodist Church, Kings Close Wilmslow SK9 5AR 10am to 4.30pm Continued over

43

Sunday 11 February

Friday 16 February

Marple and District Allotments Association Potato Day Seed potatoes, vegetable seeds, bulbs, herbs and more available to buy. Free admission, refreshments available www.marpleallotments.org.uk Senior Citizens Hall, Memorial Park, SK6 6BE 10am to 2pm

Stockport Historical Society Not only a Ledger: William Turner, Vintner – a talk by David S White. Visitors very welcome. Admission £2.50 Further information from Tony Nightingale 0161 440 0570 Stockport Sunday School, Nangreave Road, SK2 6DQ (Next to Aquinas College) 7.45pm

Tuesday 13 February

Friday 16 February

East Cheshire Association of the National Trust Lecture: Woodsmoor with Sue Bailey Brookdale Club, Bridge Lane, Bramhall, Stockport, SK7 3AB 2pm

Cheadle Hulme Flower Show Society Annual Quiz Come along and join us for a great evening. It doesn’t matter if you are on your own, or in a group, everyone is welcome.

Tables will be for eight people, and if you wish to book one in advance please phone Kate Bayliss on 0161 485 4322. You are welcome to bring your own drinks. Ticket price £4.50 All Saints Parish Rooms, Church Road, Cheadle Hulme SK8 7JB 7.30pm

Wednesday 14 February The Arts Society North East Cheshire Protest Art – Social Art: Politics and Art Do Mix. A lecture

by Elizabeth Strang, Guide at Tate Modern and Tate Britain.

Coffee from 9.30am. Potential new members always welcome and to attend as a visitor, please contact Maggie Schofield on 0161 427 9451 or maglet6@gmail.com.

Brookdale Theatre, Bridge Lane, Bramhall, Stockport SK7 3AB 10.30am

Weds 14 to Fri 16 February NK Theatre Arts Presents TEECHERS This comedy written by Jon Godber in 1984 is a play within a play in which three students put on a performance for their teachers. Everything in the play is reduced to the bare essentials, with very little set and the three actors playing 20 other parts. Ticket prices £11/£10. 24 hr Box Office 0333 666 3366 www.theforumtheatre.co.uk The Forum Theatre Romiley Stockport SK6 4EA 7.30pm

Thursday 15 February Wilmslow Guild Natural History Society Malagasy Endemics – Lemurs and leaf-tailed Geckos to Elephants Feet by Michael Pettipher. Visitors very welcome (£4) More information from David Warner 01625 874387 Wilmslow Guild, 1 Bourne St, Wilmslow SK9 5HD 7.30pm

Friday 16 February The Wellspring Quiz - Our popular annual Quiz, hosted by Gordon Burns, offers a good night out. Tickets £12 include supper and a glass of wine. Teams of six are formed at each table. A beer, wine and soft drinks bar will be on site. Parking is free within the school grounds. We look forward to a fun evening.

Stockport Grammar School, Buxton Road Stockport SK2 7AF 7pm for 7.30pm

44

Saturday 17 February Stockport Symphony Orchestra welcomes local celebrity Jennifer Pike to play Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. The programme also includes Sibelius Tapiola and Brahms Symphony no 1 Conductor Peter Stark. For more information please see www.stockportsymphony.co.uk Stockport Town Hall 7.30pm

Wednesday 21 February Lunchtime Concert Piano recital by members of the McLachan Family Admission by programme £5. Light lunches available from 12 noon Alderley Edge Methodist Church 1pm

Wednesday 21 February Stockport Walking and Outdoors Group An illustrated talk about the Peak District Boundary Walk by Julie Gough. All are welcome, admission £1. For details of all our events visit www.stockportwalkingoutdoors.org.uk Hazel Grove Civic Hall 8pm

THURSDAY 22 FEBRUARY LINK Women’s Fellowship Talk by Barry Myers whose subject is A Capital Idea. All ladies will be made very welcome to come and visit us for the afternoon which we round off with a cup of tea and biscuit and a bit of a natter and all for only £2. We’re quite a friendly bunch so why not come and meet us?

Bramhall Methodist Church (Bramhall Village Centre) 2.30pm

Friday 23 February

Weds 7 to Sat 10 March 2018

Simply Cinema presents…THE SENSE OF AN ENDING (15) Jim Broadbent gives a brilliant lead performance in this poignant and bitter-sweet drama about a retired divorcee who becomes haunted by his past when he is forced to face up to the consequences of actions he took as a young man.

A moving and thoughtful film – adapted from the prizewinning novel by Julian Barnes. Tickets £7 To book: call 0161 439 1436 email events@simplybooks.info or book online at www.simplybooks.info Centrepoint, Bramhall Methodist Church. Doors open 6.30pm Screening at 7pm

Brookdale Amateur Theatre presents Dear Lupin by Roger Mortimer and Charlie Mortimer. Box Office 0161 3022302 Brookdale Theatre, Bridge Lane, Bramhall Curtain up at 7.45pm

Saturday 24 February Bollington Chamber Concert – Busch Piano Trio Formed in 2012 this young trio has built up an enviable reputation for their eloquent and sensitive playing. Smetana Piano Trio op 15, Bridge Phantasie Trio H79, Schubert Piano Trio no 1 D898 www.bollingtonartscentre.co.uk/busch Bollington Arts Centre, 8pm

Tuesday 27 February Caffe e Conversazione at Simply Books.

Join us for informal Italian conversation over coffee and cake with local Italian teacher Giulia Shepherd. £5 includes refreshments) (Caffe e Conversazione usually takes place on the last Tuesday of each month) Simply Books, Bramhall 11am

Thursday 1 March Would you like to meet new friends? Are you over 50 and single? Thursday Group is a friendship group for men and women, with several activities run by the members every week. These include walking, dancing, badminton, theatre and restaurant visits. For more info, see www.thursdaygroup.co.uk or ring Mike on 07860 396286, or just come along to new members night on the first Thursday in each month where you will be met by group members.

The Bulls Head Pub, 30 Wilmslow Road, Handforth SK9 3EW 8.30pm

Saturday 3 March Wilmslow Wells for Africa Souperday. A choice of four delicious soups served with bread, all homemade, plus a hot drink are included in the entry price. You can also choose to buy from a wonderful array of cakes. Preserves, textiles etc. can also be bought. All the money taken goes to our charity to help provide clean, more reliable sources of water in rural Africa, enabling lives to be transformed.

Admission £4 (children half price) Wilmslow Methodist Church, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AR 11am to 2pm

THURSDAY 8 MARCH LINK Women’s Fellowship A visit from Rev Wesley Loane who is an extremely good speaker. We finish the afternoon with a cup of tea and biscuit and there is plenty of time to have a chat and to make new friends. All ladies are welcome to join us whether you are a member of our church or not - or any church for that matter.

Only £2 for the afternoon - can’t be bad!

Bramhall Methodist Church (Bramhall Village Centre) 2.30pm

Thursday 8 March Family History Society Bramhall Group The Art of Criminal Conversation with Claire Moores. Criminal conversation is an ancient legal term for an activity which often results in the subject of tonight’s talk, divorce. Learn where you can find divorce records and what they can tell you. Admission £2 with refreshments, visitors always welcome. More information 0161 439 5021 or email bramhall@fhsc.org.uk Main Hall, United Reformed Church, Bramhall SK7 2PE 7.30pm

Saturday 10 March The Barnby Choir accompanied by Musica Nova.

The choir will be performing Mozart Coronation Mass and Bach Bridget Dem Herrn. The programme will also include Missa Fidelis composed by Lloyd Buck who is the conductor of the Barnby Choir. Tickets £12, £10 (Concessions), £5 (Students) available on the door or in advance from Anne Macdonald on 07810 517464 www.thebarnbychoir.co.uk St Michael and All Angels Church, St Michael’s Avenue, Bramhall SK7 2PG

Tuesday 13 March East Cheshire Association of the National Trust Lecture – A Walk along the Cleveland Way by Victor Crawford.

Brookdale Club, Bridge Lane, Bramhall, Stockport, SK7 3AB 2pm

Friday 16 March Stockport Historical Society Coal Mining in East Cheshire: Aspects of Social and Landscape History. Visitors very welcome. Admission £2.50. Further information from Tony Nightingale 0161 440 0570.

Stockport Sunday School, Nangreave Road, SK2 6DQ (Next to Aquinas College) 7.45pm Continued over

45

Saturday 17 March

Thursday 22 March

Mendelssohn’s Elijah. Presented by The Lindow Singers and Sale Choral Society with the Sale Sinfonia Orchestra, conductor Russell Medley. Tickets: Concessions, £15; Full price £18; Young People £6 from RNCM Box Office or call 0161 907 5200.

The Royal Northern College of Music, 124 Oxford Rd, Manchester, M13 9RD 7.30pm

Wilmslow Guild Natural History Society. Brockholes – the unreserved reserve by Brian Ashworth of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust. Visitors very welcome (£4) More information from David Warner 01625 874387 Wilmslow Guild, 1 Bourne St, Wilmslow SK9 5HD 7.30pm

Wednesday 21 March

Thursday 22 MARCH

Lunchtime Concert. Violin recital by students from The Royal Northern College of Music. Admission by programme £5.

Light lunches available from 12 noon Alderley Edge Methodist Church 1pm

Bramhall Christian Viewpoint Supper Evening. Speaker Christine Hawthorne with a talk Prayer Changes Things. To book a place (£12 including Supper) ring Sheila Salden 0161 440 9794 until 16 March and after that ring Anne Powell 0161 440 7204 until the deadline of Monday 19 March.

Deanwater Hotel, Woodford 7.30pm

Weds 21 to Friday 23 March North Cheshire Photographic Society Annual Exhibition Weds 21 March evening: North Cheshire Challenge Interclub Print Competition. Thurs 22 March: Exhibition open and North Cheshire Challenge Interclub Digital Knock out Competition. Fri 23 March: Exhibition open. Members only Exhibition Dinner and Awards Presentation in the evening.

For more information visit www.ncps.org.uk Poynton Civic Centre, entry to the exhibition is free

Friday 23 March

THURSDAY 22 MARCH

Saturday 24 March

LINK Women’s Fellowship. A most pleasant afternoon when one of our church members, Val Everard, will be demonstrating Easter Floral arrangements. Val, known professionally as Val Seed, is an extremely experienced flower arranger and widely known throughout the flower arranging world. An afternoon which can’t be missed. All ladies welcome.

Bramhall Methodist Church (Bramhall Village Centre) 2.30pm

Hazel Grove Orchestra Concert, Smetana - Vltava Mahler - Songs of a Wayfarer Soloist: Michelle Robinson (Mezzo Soprano) Dvorják - Symphony No. 9 ‘From the New World’ Admission £8 (£ Concession), accompanied Children under 12 are FREE. Tickets can be purchased at the door on the night of the concert. Contact details: telephone 0161 449 7347 Hazel Grove Methodist Church, Wesley Street, Hazel Grove, SK7 4JQ 7.30pm

Saturday 24 March

Weds 21 to Sat 24 March NK Theatre Arts Presents The Who’s - ‘Quadrophenia’ *with special permission from Pete Townshend* WINNER of Best Actor, Best Musical Director & Best Musical at the 2013 Manchester Musical Awards NK Theatre Arts Rock Musical returns to The Forum Theatre! The central figure of Quadrophenia is Jimmy a teenager struggling with a split personality. Through his eyes we see his impassive parents, the 60’s Mod scene, his deluded romance and his anger and frustration against society.

To Jimmy, being a Mod is everything; a way of life, and a chance to be special.

Ticket prices £15 (10% discount for INSIDE readers) 24 hr Box Office 0333 666 3366 The Forum Theatre Romiley, Stockport SK6 4EA www.theforumtheatre.co.uk

46

Cheadle Hulme Flower Show Society. A talk by Jane Allison on ‘A Countryside Walk’. There will be a break for refreshments and a raffle. Members £3, Non-Members £3.50. We are a friendly society and look forward to welcoming newcomers to our group.

All Saints Parish Rooms, Church Road, Cheadle Hulme SK8 7JB 7.30pm to 9.30pm

Stockport Symphony Orchestra plays Rachmaninov The Rock, Khachaturian Masquerade Suite and Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade, featuring leader Helen Brackley-Jones as soloist.

Conductor Matthew Wood. For more information please see www.stockportsymphony.co.uk Stockport Town Hall 7.30pm

Saturday 24 March The Fitzwilliam Quartet. Programme: Purcell Fantazia no 7 Z738, Marcus Barcham Stevens Double on Purcell’s Fantazia no 7; Fantazia on one note, Praetorius/Brahms Chorale Prelude: Es ist ein Ros’ enstsprungen op 122 no 8, Beethoven Quartet in F minor op 95, Schubert Death and the Maiden D810 www.bollingtonartscentre.co.uk Bollington Arts Centre 8pm

Compiled by Claire Hawker > email: claire@insidemagazines.co.uk

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useful numbers Churches Baptist Church Christ Church, Woodford Bramhall Christian Fellowship Evangelical Church Methodist Church Roman Catholic Church of St Vincent de Paul St Michael & All Angels United Reformed Church

Police (non-emergency) 0161 317 2702 0161 439 2286 0161 440 9132 0161 439 3103 0161 439 1204 0161 440 0889 0161 439 3989 0161 439 4807

0161 426 5850 0161 426 9700 07548 098 258 0161 439 3322

Helplines Alcoholics Anonymous Al-Anon CALL Listening Line Childline Citizens Advice Bureau Crimestoppers Directory Enquiries National Dementia Helpline RSPCA Samaritans The Wellspring, Stockport

0800 917 7650 02074 030888 0800 132 2737 0800 1111 03444 111 444 0800 555111 118 500 0300 222 1122 0300 1234999 116 123 0161 477 6344

Hospitals Stepping Hill Hospital NHS Non-Emergency

0161 856 9973 0161 856 9770 101

Post Offices Bramhall Sorting Office Maple Road Post Office Parkside Post Office Hazel Grove Post Office

0843 903 3213 0161 439 4100 0161 439 4006 0161 483 2332

Schools

Doctors Bramhall Health Centre Bramhall Park Medical Centre Bramhall Park Cancellation Line The Village Surgery

Bramhall & Woodford Police Cheadle Heath Police Station (non-emergency)

0161 483 1010 111

Bramhall High School Ladybrook Primary School Moss Hey Primary School Nevill Road Infants Nevill Road Juniors Infants Juniors Pownall Green Primary School Queensgate Primary School

0161 439 8045 0161 439 8444 0161 439 5114 0161 439 4817 0161 439 4598 0161 439 4817 0161 439 4598 0161 439 1105 0161 439 3330

Travel Traveline Bus & Train Information National Rail Enquiries Manchester Airport

0871 200 2233 0345 748 4950 0800 0420213

Utilities Electricity – Power Loss Gas – Emergency Water Mains Environment Agency Floodline

0800 195 4141 0800 111 999 0845 746 2200 0845 988 1188

Leisure Centre Bramhall

0161 439 8128

Libraries Bramhall Library Stockport Central Library

0161 217 6009 0161 474 4530

Local Government Stockport MBC Mary Robinson MP

0161 480 4949 0161 672 6855

53

classified index ART Bramhall Art Society

ELECTRICIANS 30

BUILDING SOCIETIES Vernon Building Society

22

Simply Books

4

50

SCZ Electrical Services

16

ESTATE AGENTS

52

FURNITURE

Whitehall Builders

47

Uniquely Chic

CARE HOMES & SERVICES 21

Alice Chilton In-Home Care

32

Hillbrook Grange

49

CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING 18

Mr Soot

7

17

Bramhall Village Club

30

Taylor Electrical

24

27

PLUMBING & HEATING

RESTAURANTS Copper Lounge

13

SECURITY City Lock & Safe Ltd

48

SOLICITORS / LEGAL SERVICES Mounteney Solicitors Slater & Gordon

47

Inside Front Cover

STAIRCASE RENOVATIONS The Stair Shop

35

Thomas Ferns

26

TREE SERVICES Swift Tree & Arboricultural Services 16

41

KITCHENS

TRAVEL Travel by Design

9

KITCHEN RESPRAYING Matt Finish

32

42

INSULATION

Pro Glass 4 Splashbacks

ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES

25

HEARING SERVICES

Thermal Homes

39

17

HAIR & BEAUTY

Park House

EDUCATION & TUITION

7

GOLF CLUBS

HOTELS & B&B’S

10

48

PLASTERERS PJ McEvoy

10

GARDEN MAINTENANCE & LAWN CARE

27

Greenbank Preparatory School

Pure Clean Drainage Solutions 23

41

53

Pure Clean Drainage Solutions

PATIOS

Jack Francis

Philip Unsworth

DRAINAGE

7

Creative Gardens & Driveways

Back Cover

Gary O Reilly

5

OVEN CLEANING

18

Cheshire Hearing Centres

DECORATORS

Spring Decorating

14

36

BPF Plumbing & Heating

Francesco Group

CLUBS & ENTERTAINMENT

LOFT LADDERS

GARDEN DESIGN & LANDSCAPING

AVRO Golf Club

CHIROPODY Suzanne Gaskell

Carrington Doors

Robinsons Garden Maintenance

CHIMNEY SERVICES

48

Eco Dazzle

GARAGE DOORS

Abney Court

Safeclean

Inside Back Cover

FINANCIAL SERVICES

JS Services

City Lock & Safe Ltd

More Than Loft Ladders

Stratagem Wealth

BUILDING SERVICES

54

Maddocks

Mosley Jarman

BOOK SHOPS

LOCKSMITH SERVICES

36

15

WINDOW & CONSERVATORY REPAIRS Cloudy2Clear

31

The Window Repair Centre

51