The Lancashire & North West Magazine | July 2020

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Summer Fashion with

Sarah Harris

July 2020

Anne Brontë

The first feminist writer

Tempest

A vision of the future from Lancashire

Rachel Clegg

Rochdale born artist talks to us about her cult calendars and niche art prints.

Boost your mood pick a fragrance with a positive effect

Lancashire convicts

Criminals transported to Australia

Mr Entwistle’s army

£2.45

The story of the Ribbon Boys

Cliviger • Formby • Milnrow

FUNKY FEMININE & VERSATILE Collections include:

Marc Cain D.Exterior Temperley London Hale Bob Ramy Brook Melissa Odabash Forever Unique Elie Tahari Tory Burch Kobi Halperin Roland Mouret Fabiana Filippi Le Tricot Perugia Bella Dahl and many more

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CONTENTS

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PLACES 24 66 102

Cliviger Milnrow Formby

FEATURES 122 108

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8 12 16 30 36 40 42 58 60 76 78 88 96 98 108 112 116 122 128 134 140 146 152 158 162 178 188 196 202

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Simply Skippool Annie’s lockdown suggestions Hardwicke Rawnsley Lancashire’s convicts Healthy activity for adults at home Ron Baxter, writer and artist Blackpool VE day CEW photo awards Physical activity for young people at home Lakeland book of the year Andrew Harris reviews the RICS awards Are birds singing louder?

TeenStar New wetland created for birds Anne Brontë, the first feminist writer Bluebell bonanza Rachel Clegg, cult calendars & niche prints Healthy barbequing The rogue clergyman Penrith squirrel group Look after your heart and mind Andrew Harris writes about the Tempest - the vision of the future Mr Entwistle’s Army, the story of the ribbon boys Dogs a danger to nesting birds Heart healthy diet Perfumes to suit your mood Why we all need to go peat free Physical activity for older adults 7 tips for pregnant women during lockdown

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Contents Regulars 64

Books

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Short story winner

July 2020 • Volume 43 Number 7

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112 Wildlife 144 Aiming Higher 151 Peter Rutt 160 Around the region 166 Colour me beautiful 169 The life of Di 172 Moo style 176 Nelly’s Blog 206 Horoscope 210 Business index

Competitions & Promotions This months short story winner is Sue Gerrard. You can see her short story on page 72.

Email us your short story of about a 1000 words. We are continuing on the theme of ‘Greed’.

You could win a years subscription to the magazine.

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One lucky couple will be able to put their heroic efforts aside for a short time while getting married at an amazing North West beauty spot.

The competition is open to anyone who has been helping others during the Coronavirus pandemic.

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Summer Fashion with

Sarah Harris

July 2020

Anne Brontë

The first feminist writer

Tempest

A vision of the future from Lancashire

Rachel Clegg

Rochdale born artist talks to us about her cult calendars and niche art prints.

Boost your mood pick a fragrance with a positive effect

Lancashire convicts

Criminals transported to Australia

Mr Entwistle’s army

£2.45

The story of the Ribbon Boys

Cliviger • Formby • Milnrow

COVER: Sarah Harris of Colour me beautiful

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Managing Director Natalie Christopher natalie@lancashiremagazine.co.uk Editorial 01253 336588 editorial@lancashiremagazine.co.uk Sales Enquiries • 07918 685673 Design Manager • Hugh Dairy Designers • Maralette Wenham Roger Poole Accounts • 01253 336582

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General enquiries/subscriptions Sharon Henry 01253 336588 sharon@countymags.co.uk The Lancashire & North West Magazine Ltd, Seasiders Way, Blackpool, Lancashire FY1 6NZ Writers Jessica Gregson • Stephen Roberts • Andrew Harris • Duncan Hodgson • Bevan Ridehalgh • Carl Lee • Karen Pennington • Bernard Bale • Tony Burdon • Pam Graham • Mairead Mahon • Stephanie Monk

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Visit our website at www.lancmag.com

Note to contributors. While every care is taken with manuscripts, drawings, photographs and transparencies, no responsibility is accepted during transmission or while in the Editor’s hands. The contents of this magazine are fully protected and nothing may be used or reproduced without permission.

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In this issue...

Grade II* Listed late-16th century Barcroft Hall, a former country house (author – Bill Boaden / Barcroft Hall / CC BY-SA 2.0, source – www.geograph.org.uk).

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hilst we pull together as a country and a county against the invisible enemy that has surprised us all, we have noticed a lot of positives that we would like to mention. A renewed appreciation for your family, friends and your job, clearer perspective in a variety of areas, pollution down, wildlife up, communities interacting with care and more regularly, a better understanding for many and a deeper bond with our NHS as we look across the world and compare we really are number one, a shock at the amount of pressure on care homes with no government help and a look at the amazing care providers through different eyes, appreciation for the shops and the high street and real life, looking more at the names and faces behind our bin collections, delivery drivers and people who often go unnoticed and focus on what we want to do with the time we have.

Having said all that I can’t fit in to any of my clothes and if I was travelling on a bus I think people would definitely stand up to give me a seat, I can’t stop eating, my fridge is my new best friend and a trip to Aldi has become as exciting as a holiday to Las Vegas.

When you aren’t allowed out it seems your standards can also quickly drop. As shops reopen and life slowly resumes I am going to put a padlock on the fridge because sadly fridge pickers do wear bigger knickers.

If anyone is feeling as desperate as me about their health we do have some tips to get you back on track. This will tell you exactly how much activity you

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should be doing and how to do it to create the biggest impact. In 50 years of our magazine we cannot see a feature on Cliviger so this month you have it. It is never difficult in our brilliant North of England to find features for you but we think you will find this one worth the wait. It might be small but remember good things come in small packages and when we are allowed you will want to have a drive over to see for yourself the beauty this area has to offer and see the changes that are afoot.

We love our wildlife and we know our readers do too, which is why we pack in as much as we can from our friends at the trust and this month a new contact from the Lake District has given us some insight into the fight to keep our Beautiful red squirrels.

July edition sees us work with a lovely and unusual artist Rachel Clegg as she pushes boundaries and bravely creates art that is unique and forward thinking, leaving debate in her trail, some of her inspiration comes from her family history, but you can get the full story within, you might want to sit down!

Perfumes and potions and scents have been used for years for all different purposes, to lure men, to heal, to aid with mood and in the last decades smell has been a key part of marketing for many businesses.

Many companies feel various smells increase their sales if they have them in their shops, many hotels also do this. Do you ever associate a certain smell with your favourite place, psychology tells us

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

that helps form an attachment and a loyalty that can be great for business but we will give you the information and let you decide.

You can read about what to look for to lift your mood, help you relax, when you have relaxed then help you get energised again, lift your spirits, enhance your focus and the list goes on but what is helpful is that PR Boutique have given some examples of fragrances in the shops that have just what we might be looking for so at worst when you go to buy aftershave or perfume for yourself or someone else this might help narrow down the mammoth choice on the shelves.

Moving away from treats and on to some serious history we uncover where Lancashire convicts were sent and we reveal the crimes that got them banished to Australia, today the irony is that it is no longer so easy to get in to Australia to live but you hopefully you will read with interest what used to happen to Lancashire folk and just how easy it was to become branded with the criminal title.

Everyone is working under various strains and restrictions at the moment and the pressure is on but we hope whatever your circumstances you are able to put your feel up, get a cuppa and give yourself an hour to enjoy what we have created.

Love and Best Wishes The Lancashire Magazine www.lancmag.com

Simply Skippool Sailing on the banks of the River Wyre

Wyre estuary at Skippool Creek with road bridge in background, Skippool creek, Lancashire

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remember reading years ago – don’t ask me where – that there used to be an inland village near Poulton le Fylde that was called Skipton.

Ton, of course, is a common ending of place names. It stems from the Old English and has a whole host of meanings ranging from a simple enclosure to a largish village.

Consider for instance, Thornton; that pretty obviously would have been an enclosure of thorns. But what or who would skip have been? It is said that skip derives from skiff which is Middle English for ship. But how did “ship” come to be applied to an inland village?

Presumably, the name was originally applied at the water’s edge and gradually spread inland.

Skipton sat alongside a stream called Skipton Pool. My dictionary defines pool as being a body of still, usually fresh, water. That may be the exact, correct definition but in the Fylde area, 8

at least, it can mean a water-course.

For example, the course that flows into the River Wyre at Wardleys is known as Wardleys Pool.

For some reason, possibly just the effect of time, the settlement of Skipton became known as Skippool.

Probably all of us know that there is a Skipton over in Yorkshire. The presence of that and the Lancashire one once caused confusion to an author who wrote about Cockersand Abbey.

This abbey used to lie seven miles south of Lancaster before Henry VIII got to work. The author in question obviously did not know about the Fylde’s Skipton for he found it strange that a man from Skipton in Yorkshire, forty-two miles away, became a leading figure at Cockersand. “Why”, he asked, “did he not join an establishment nearer home?”

Skippool covers a wide area although

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most people think that it is just a small spot that sits against the River Wyre. If I am on the right track and Skippool Pool is still there, it now carries the mundane name of Main Dyke. This dyke drains the land lying in the area out towards Staining.

The creek at Skippool is a natural small harbour. Certainly, in the past, it offered a far more suitable location for a port than the coast did. On the open coast, the boats, which were small in the old days, would have been under threat during storms and even open to attack by men who were effectively pirates.

Across the river at Wardleys there was a place that was similar to Skippool.

The two were linked by ferry and possibly a ford for many years. Back in the 1700’s, these two places had more trade than Liverpool. There was trading with Ireland, Russia and others. Such as sugar, rum and flax were imported as well as the less exotic coal, limestone www.lancmag.com

and oats. Another import was guano which came from the Caribbean Islands. The Islands had a large bird population and this resulted in areas deep with bird droppings, guano. It does not need much thought to realise that this was brought in as fertiliser.

Cheese was exported. All of these activities necessitated the establishment of a Customs Office at Poulton.

Lancaster stands by Morecambe Bay, not far from the mouth of the River Wyre. Back in the 1700s, Lancaster was one of the largest ports in the Slave Trade. One might have imagined that trade being taken up in Skippool; after all, it was nearer the inland “market�.

But it was not, presumably because the boats that were engaged in the trade across three continents were too large to berth there.

Of course, the water has not left Skippool nor has the boating fraternity.

The Blackpool and Fylde Yacht Club www.lancmag.com

Waiting for the tide LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE

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Lifting a boat out of the water

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there are some twenty disused boats

A wedding reception at the River House sometime in the 1960s can be found there. This club is a sailing and powerboat organisation. It has dingy and keelboat racing fleets along with cruising contingents who venture further out to sea. It is hard to assess just how many boats there are there. Is it forty? Or is it sixty?

The boating fraternity may not have left Skippool but some people have left the fraternity for there are some twenty disused boats there. Some are quite sizable and some are very old.

Now I am testing my memory once again. Back in the ’60s - I think – a different kind of boating took place around Skippool and Wardleys once a year. To be honest, I think principally Wardleys. This was a raft race that was arranged by one of the men’s fellowship organisations. It was not much of a race, more a set of battles fought in order to keep the vessels afloat. Well, I say vessels but I don’t think I would argue if you said that metal drums lashed together with planks across was not a vessel. Several of these may have sunk but all made a fair bit of money for charity. You may ask why it ended.

I don’t know. Was it the advance of Health and Safety?

Skippool is a place that is popular with bird watchers. Around fifty to sixty species can be found there at different www.lancmag.com

times. In August 2004, a Great Knot was spotted which was an extremely rare occurrence. It was only the third time such a bird had been spotted in Britain.

There is also cricket in Skippool, it being home to Thornton Cleveleys Cricket Club.

Many people of a slightly older age will remember an establishment called the River House. This was a top ranking guest house and restaurant sitting right on the edge of the Wyre. It was always brimming with top level politicians and MP’s during Party Conference time.

Those were the days when Blackpool invariably had one leading party or another’s conference each year.

Skippool Creek is easy to find although road works that are scheduled for this year and next may make it a shade more difficult than usual. These works are the A585 Windy Harbour to Skippool improvement scheme. A new stretch of road that is being built will bypass the existing A585 at Little Singleton. It is going to cost a cool 150 million pounds, so I hope it works!

At present, travelling from the Preston area and the M55, you take the A585 to Fleetwood. Skirting round Poulton you pass a Petrol Garage and

the River Wyre Hotel, both on the left and then immediately take the B5412 road to Thornton on the right. You will soon come to Thornton Lodge Inn on the right after having travelled six miles from the motorway. The road down by the side of the inn leads straight onto the creek. If you have SatNav set it for FY5 5LD.

Above: Thornton Lodge Below: Blackpool and Fylde Yacht Club

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Annie’s lockdown suggestions Hello friends! I’m writing this in April when the national lockdown is still very much in session, but hopefully now as we’re getting closer to summer, you’re all a bit more free to leave the house and be safe! But just in case you are still being advised to remain indoors, here are a few media ideas of different genres to entertain yourselves and avoid going completely mad; they aren’t necessarily current but the classics are the best in my opinion.

Musicals All of the following soundtracks are available on Spotify and other music apps as well as Youtube; the original Broadway cast albums and more recent cast albums

Dear Evan Hansen - I can’t say I have a favourite musical, but if I could, I’d probably say it’s Dear Evan Hansen. Never have I listened to a soundtrack which has made me feel more or stronger emotions than the Original Broadway cast album starring Ben Platt, an all time favourite broadway star of mine.

Truly an elite musical with a phenomenal cast. I really can’t sing its praises enough.

Evita - An oldie but a goodie. This soundtrack never fails to get me belting in the shower and waving my arms around like Madonna. Such epic lyrics and complex time signatures which are fun to hear. I remember talking about this with one of my old music teachers and the way she got so excited over a tempo change inspired me to start learning about how techniques like this reflect different messages within musicals.

The Book of Mormon - The epitome of humour within a musical. The absolute funniest production I’ve ever had the fortune of going to see. This does include some controversial themes and, well, horrific language, but for the not-so-faint-ofheart, this is guaranteed to have you rolling about on the floor.

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Falsettos - In a word; beautiful. It’s so nice to see taboo issues being displayed in theatre and in such a raw and no-nonsense fashion as Falsettos does. I won’t lie, I had to listen to this soundtrack a couple of times before I understood the plot as well as the messages behind some of the songs, but once I got my head round that it quickly gained a place in my top 10 shows. This was aided by the glorious Andrew Rannells’ part as a lead in the Original Broadway cast. I can’t put into words how incredibly moved I was by his stunning portrayal of his character and I’m not afraid to say his solos had me sobbing.

Another soundtrack which probably requires adult permission to show to children, but for those deemed mature enough to experience this show I’m sure will enjoy it immensely.

Hamilton - If you haven’t heard about Hamilton by now I’m not sure where you’ve been. This magnificent creation of Lin-Manuel’s has been on my mind for well over a year and it still gives me chills every time I put it on. There truly aren’t enough words in the English language to evoke the feelings listening to this soundtrack gives me. All the casts I’ve listened to channel the energy of the show with effortless grace.

Completely incredible.

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Books Jane Eyre - I may be biased as I’m currently writing a 3,000 word essay on Bronte’s Jane Eyre but it’s currently my absolute favourite novel. It’s written in Bronte’s classic and unique style with immense amounts of description and very readable language. Any A-level students dream.

Atonement - Again, my opinions may be swayed as this is the theme of some coursework I’m doing, but McEwan’s Atonement is absolutely worth the read. With powerful meaning behind every word and issues raised which are very relevant in today’s society, the time taken to read this would be very well spent.

Les Miserables - As a musical theatre nerd, I had to devote some of my time in quarantine to visiting the classic which inspired the Boublil and Schönberg musical; Hugo’s two-part Les Miserables. Both the first and second book go into much more detail than the stage productions regarding the French Revolution and other elements which are less mentioned in the musical. Though I admit it took me a number of weeks to get through both volumes, it was very much worth it.

Series The Vampire Diaries - I may be late to the party (the majority of people I talk to about this show watched it years ago) but anyone who hasn’t seen The Vampire Diaries, should.

The target audience may well be teenagers but anyone who likes a good old fashioned love story with many a twist and turn on the way will enjoy this exciting show. The plot never sits still, the acting never fails to impress, the characters are relatable (as vampires can be) and the scores are very lovely.

Which brings me on to...

The Originals - a spin off from the above, this is my favourite show at the moment. The cast are so brilliantly talented and equally as attractive (my queer self often has the internal argument as to whether Elijah or Hayley are more enjoyable to look at) in addition to the main theme of family preservation and loyalties being very moving to watch. www.lancmag.com

American horror story - another oldie but still good to watch. If you don’t know already, this show presents different series’ in different eras and with different characters and plots which interlink to form a very interesting watch. The cast is incredibly talented and often makes the watcher forget the character they’re seeing is played by the same actor as different characters in different series’. The show is reasonably dark and although it isn’t exactly as ‘scary’ as its title suggests, there is a notable amount of gore and adult themes as well as strong language and frequent sexual scenes. Overall a complex and thrilling show.

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H-D-Rawnsley-1918

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Hardwicke Rawnsley Together with Octavia Hill and Robert Hunter he was responsible for forming the greatest conservation body in this country - The National Trust.

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ardwicke Rawnsley known as ‘Hardie’ to his friends was a prominent Anglican priest, writer, poet, social reformer, and conservationist. Together with Octavia Hill and Robert Hunter he was responsible for forming the greatest conservation body in this country - The National Trust.

Born in 1851 at Shiplake Rectory Oxford he was descended from a long line of vicars, and was the 2nd son, and 4th of 10 children born to The Reverend Robert ‘Drummond’ Rawnsley.

In 1862 Drummond was appointed vicar at Halton Holegate in the fens of Lincolnshire. Rawnsley spent much of his time there observing and growing to love the natural world as well as watching the hard lives of the navvies building railway embankments.

In 1862 he enrolled at Uppingham School where he excelled in athletics and gymnastics. However, it was the headmaster Edward Thring who encouraged his artistic side including his poetry writing.

Thring also imbued him with strong Christian values including chivalry, unselfishness, sincerity, devotion to serving others and sympathy for the less fortunate.

In 1869, Thring introduced Rawnsley to the Lake District with a holiday in Grasmere. It was to be the start of a lifelong passion for the open spaces, and nature of The Lakes.

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In 1870 Rawnsley studied classics at Balliol College Oxford.

He then switched to the natural sciences with a view to making medicine his chosen profession.

However, it was here that his life changed when he came under the influence of the prominent critic and social reformer John Ruskin. Rawnsley and other undergraduates including Oscar Wilde and Arnold Toynbee undertook the physical labour, under Ruskin’s instruction, to improve the road from Oxford to Hinskey to benefit the working man.

Although this project was abandoned when Ruskin left for Venice it awakened a life- long ‘social conscience’ in Hardwicke. He also decided that maybe the church would be a more noble profession than medicine.

After Oxford Rawnsley went to work with the urban deprived poor in London when he was appointed lay chaplain at Newport Market Refuge. This was a hostel for the destitute poor of St Mary’s Soho where prostitution and poverty were rife. It was here he met the prominent campaigner for social justice Octavia Hill.

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Rawnsley threw himself whole- heartedly into his parish and over- worked himself leading to a nervous breakdown.

Hill suggested he recuperate in the Lake District and he headed to Wray Castle to stay with his cousins, then with Thring to Grasmere and finally to stay with Hill’s friends the Fletcher family at Ambleside.

Here he met Edith, the Fletcher family’s oldest daughter.

The two bonded quickly and lastingly over a love of music, art, literature, and nature.

Then in December 1875 he became chaplain to the Clifton College Mission in one of Bristol’s poorest areas. He was particularly involved in helping the youth of the area, he organised temperance meetings, football matches and country walks. His zeal was unquenchable, he even converted a disused factory into a church. When he left in 1877 the mayor presented him with a testimonial to his work.

In 1877 Rawnsley and Edith Fletcher were married, and their only child Noel was born in 1880. His cousin Edward Rawnsley’s estate at Wray Castle contained a small church called the church of St Margaret of Antioch at Low Wray.

Rawnsley was offered, and accepted, the post of Vicar at St Margaret’s.

Another great benefit for Rawnsley of being in the area was his great friend and mentor Ruskin lived nearby at Brantwood in Coniston. The two worked together to try to improve the lives of poor country labourers. To this end, they suggested reviving traditional cottage industries such as weaving, but in the end settled on teaching metalwork and woodwork.

Another famous writer, later to become a neighbour, was Beatrix Potter. Rawnsley first met her when she holidayed at Wray Castle in 1882. The two became firm friends and Rawnsley encouraged her drawing and writing. He also helped in the publication of ‘Peter Rabbit’, her first book.

As well as his parochial duties Rawnsley continued to campaign on behalf of the preservation of the natural world.

In 1883 he successfully campaigned against two railways lines, one in Newlands Valley and another from Ennerdale Water to the coast.

Rawnsley then formed the ‘Derwent Water and Borrowdale Defence Committee’. Amongst the members was one Robert Hunter a prominent solicitor, civil servant and later to be the third founder of the National Trust.

Continuing his preservation activities Rawnsley then formed the ‘Lake District Preservation Society’ (later Friends of the lake District) the group’s members included such luminaries as Ruskin, the Lakes poet Robert Browning, the Duke of Westminster, and another poet - Alfred Lord Tennyson.

Above: Octavia-Hill-by-Sargent

Below: Robert-Hunter-1913

He was not afraid to organise and lead protesters

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Allan Bank, Grasmere

The society’s aims were simple – to protect the rights of way across private land and the use of common land by all.

Rawnsley also campaigned hard for animal rights speaking out against rabbit coursing, animal trapping and killing birds so their feathers could be used in hats.

Rawnsley then changed jobs again becoming the vicar of St Kentigern’s at Crosthwaite and the rural Dean of Keswick.

He aimed to be an enthusiastic friend to, landowners, locals, boatmen and tourists.

Then in 1877 he revived the Keswick and District footpath preservation society. He was not afraid to organise and lead protestors and when the owner of Latrigg (n Keswick) refused walkers access across two public right of way paths he led over 2,000 protestors onto the disputed paths. The case went to court, one path was restricted and the other was re-instated as a permanent public right of way.

This was all great work, but Rawnsley was now convinced that ownership of land was the best way to protect nature and public rights of way. He headed to London and with Octavia Hill and Robert Hunter they formed the National Trust in January 1895.

Rawnsley was a tireless fundraiser for the trust and he helped raise the £6,500 needed to buy their first site of 105 www.lancmag.com

acres at Brandlehow Woods and Fell. Other sites swiftly followed including in 1906 the 750-acre site Gowbarrow Fell at Ullswater and in 1910 the Borrowdale Bowder Stone and the Castlerigg Stone Circle.

Rawnsley was now looking towards later life and in 1915 he bought Allan Bank in Grasmere to retire to.

Unfortunately, in December 1916 Edith died. Then in 1918 Rawnsley re-married Eleanor Foster Simpson, a long-standing family friend.

Rawnsley himself died of a heart attack in 1920. His legacy is outstanding. By the time of his death he had written over 40 books including poetry, a biography of Ruskin and books about the Lake District.

But his most enduring legacy is the National Trust.

At the time of his death in 1920 the Trust owned 994 estates in England and Wales and its vital conservation work ensures buildings and places are preserved for all to enjoy for generations to come.

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e can all do our bit for the environment, even if we are on lock down and that is why LOVEmyBEACH is launching a new campaign to Wipe Out Ocean Plastic or WOOP! Aimed at young people, and young women in particular, the campaign seeks to raise awareness of the fact that many of the products they most commonly use such as wet wipes and period care products contain plastic and when disposed of incorrectly can end up in our oceans, on our beaches and harm wildlife.

Around 11 billion wet wipes are used in the UK each year and are the cause of 80 per cent of sewer blockages, costing £100 million a year. In addition, 1.5 billion period care products are flushed every year in the UK. Sadly, plastic waste kills around one million seabirds and 100,000 mammals every year.

Zephie Begolo, LOVEmyBEACH campaign manager said: “The vast majority of wet wipes and period care products are made of plastic that don’t break down in sewers. This can harm the environment in two ways: firstly, by causing

sewer blockages and ‘fatbergs’ which can lead to sewer systems being overwhelmed and overflowing during times of increased rainfall, which can also lead to floods. And secondly, if they end up on beaches and in the ocean, they can cause serious harm to the environment and to wildlife.

“The good news is that we can all play a big part in protecting our oceans and wildlife by making some simple changes in our day-to-day lives.”

The WOOP! (Wipe Out Ocean Plastic) campaign encourages people to only throw single use items containing plastic in the bin and to never flush them down the loo.

LOVEmyBEACH is also encouraging young women to look for alternatives on the market that won’t do as much damage to the environment, such as menstrual cups, ‘fine to flush’ wet wipes and period products that do not contain plastic.

“People might be wondering what they can do to help the environment while they are on lock down and spending a lot of time at home. In fact, there are lots of things we can do to protect our oceans and wildlife, even if we are nowhere near the coast,” Zephie commented.

You can help to protect the environment from the comfort of your own home by taking these three easy steps: 1. Never flush wet wipes, period products or anything else down the loo, unless it’s one of the 3 P’s – Pee, Poo and Paper!

2. Always dispose of these unflushable items in a bin. It’s so easy and has a big impact.

3. Look out for sustainable products that don’t contain plastic, such as reusable make up wipes, biodegradable pads and tampons or menstrual cups.

People can get involved in the campaign by sharing their pictures of how they are helping to Wipe Out Ocean Plastic and using the hashtag #WOOP! More information can be found at www.lovemybeach.org 20

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Jean-Louis Gassee

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Surge in appreciation for green spaces and outpouring of community spirit amid lockdown A new poll on community spirit and attitudes to green spaces during lockdown finds nearly two-thirds (63%) of us think protecting and enhancing green spaces should be a higher priority after the lockdown.

Only 11% of us feel less connected to our community during lockdown, while 40% feel more connected and one in three (33%) of 18 to 34-year-olds report having made new intergenerational connections.

D

espite us living under the strictest social distancing measures we’ve ever experienced in the UK, there has been an increase in community spirit and appreciation for local green spaces and countryside during lockdown, according to new research released today. Commissioned by CPRE, the countryside charity and the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (WI), and carried out by Opinium, the poll has found that over half (54%) agree that people are doing more to help their communities and nearly two-thirds of people (63%) feel that protecting local green spaces should be a higher priority for the government when lockdown ends.

The results show local green spaces have been a haven for many people since lockdown measures began with: The majority (53%) of people saying they appreciate local green spaces more since the country adopted social distancing measures; Over half (57%) of us reported that the lockdown has made us more aware of the importance of these local green spaces for our mental health and wellbeing; and One in three people (35%) reported visiting green spaces more since the start of lockdown.

CPRE Lancashire, Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester champions the social value of our countryside and community greenspace. Taking a walk in open green space has considerable health and well-being benefits, and it is notable that the Government has been keen to allow 22

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people outdoors for daily exercise, in recognition of just how good it is for us.

Over the past year, we have supported local parish councils and communities to show the adverse impacts of unnecessary loss of greenspace, including in areas protected by Green Belt designations, the intention of which is for land to remain permanently open. In Bolton and Wigan we helped local residents make the case to stop the harm to Grade II Registered Hulton Park and Garden from development for over 1,000 houses, with an exclusive golf resort, and in Sefton we are strongly opposing the proposed dual carriageway (in effect a motorway) through Rimrose Valley Country Park to service the greatly expanded, and still expanding, Liverpool Port in the absence of any strategic planning involving other modes of transport, especially rail.

Crispin Truman, chief executive of CPRE, the countryside charity, said: “Our countryside and local green spaces are facing mounting pressure but the coronavirus pandemic has reminded us why the countryside next door, including our Green Belts, is so important to ordinary people. More people are aware of the health and wellbeing benefits that access to green spaces delivers and support for protecting and enhancing these after lockdown is impossible for the government to ignore. www.lancmag.com

‘Clap for the NHS’ on a Thursday evening (49%) Saying hello at the front door (37%) Social media (36%) Phone calls (33%) Seeing people in person and at a safe distance in communal spaces like parks (29%) Intergenerational connections have also been impacted: Nearly a quarter (24%) of people reporting they have made new connections with different age groups in their local community; One in three (33%) 18 to 34-year-olds saying they have made new intergenerational connections; For all those who have made these new connections, over two thirds (69%) are optimistic these new relationships will continue once lockdown is over.

Lynne Stubbings, Chair, National Federation of Women’s Institutes, said: “It is wonderful to see how communities have become more connected in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

It is clear that we are cherishing our local communities now more than ever – by supporting our neighbours and those who are vulnerable, and getting out in the fresh air at our local green spaces.

“Going back to business as usual is not an option. The government must use the forthcoming planning reforms to protect these precious spaces and also go further by investing in their enhancement.

“Many of us feared that lockdown would see more people isolated, lonely and cut off from their communities and the outside world. However, today’s results have turned these notions on their head. While we are physically distanced, many of us are more connected than ever and people are helping each other in their communities – with different age groups connecting more – which is truly inspiring to see.”

It is clear that some of the high-profile volunteering and fundraising initiatives, including the remarkable fundraising

by Captain Tom, are not isolated acts of kindness and community spirit. The poll has also uncovered an outpouring of community spirit and feeling of togetherness, revealing that: Only 11% of us feel less connected to our community at this time – 40% feel more connected and 42% just as connected as before;

“The WI has always thrived through difficult times and for over one hundred years it has remained at the heart of its communities, supporting those in need – and today’s lockdown is no different. WI members across the country have stepped forward to help others throughout the crisis – whether by arranging free book deliveries, sewing for the NHS, supporting food banks, or creating craft kits for families home-schooling their children. It is these acts of kindness and solidarity which have spread positivity, alleviated loneliness, and lifted people’s spirits through what has been an incredibly challenging time.

“Throughout this crisis, green spaces have also been a lifeline to people dealing with the impact of lockdown. So many of us have discovered pockets of green right on our doorsteps – a chance to get out in the fresh air, exercise, and support our mental wellbeing, which has been an oasis in difficult times. Yet too many of these places are threatened by pollution, litter or the impacts of climate change.

As we look to rebuild after the crisis, we must make sure that we continue to cherish our communities and this new sense of connectedness – both to each other and to our local environment.”

Over half (54%) of us agree that people are doing more to help their community under lockdown; Two in five people (42%) are communicating more with people in their local community and one in six people (19%) communicating at least twice as much with their neighbours as before; and the top five ways in which we’re connecting more under lockdown are: www.lancmag.com

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Cliviger I like a conundrum. Here was one for starters. Is there actually a place called Cliviger, or am I writing about somewhere that doesn’t quite exist?

Words: Stephen Roberts

Grade II* Listed late-16th century Barcroft Hall, a former country house (author – Bill Boaden / Barcroft Hall / CC BY-SA 2.0, source – www.geograph.org.uk).

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M

y sources tell me that there is no village, no settlement of Cliviger, as such, although there is a parish in Burnley Borough (since 1974), southeast of Burnley itself. It’s modest with an area of around 10½ square miles and a population of just around 2,250 (2011). Although the parish fits snugly within the Borough, it’s a bit more fragmented than you might expect, with three separate postal towns and some scattered farms all having a stake in ‘Cliviger’. The principal ‘bits’ seem to be Mereclough, Overtown, Walk Mill, Southward Bottom, and in the centre

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of the parish, Holme Chapel, which is regarded as the ‘village centre’, with its primary school, church and village hall, although we’re advised such a thing (a village) doesn’t really exist, and after all, how can you have a village centre, if you have no village? It’s confusing.

So, where did Cliviger (the name, rather than the place) come from?

Reverend and Doctor Thomas Dunham Whitaker (1759-1821), who was both curate of Holme Chapel and an historian, reckoned it was Anglo-Saxon and derived from some old words translating as ‘rocky district’. That

would certainly make sense given that the parish is located at the north-west end of Cliviger Gorge, a glacial valley, and that the parish’s highest point is 1,573 feet above sea level (Hoof Stones Height, Stiperden Moor). A later, early-20th century offering was that the name had actually meant ‘steep slope farmland’, but again, derived from Old English. I often feel with these things that you pay your money and make your choice.

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Thieveley Lead Mine, Cliviger, just one example of the mining endeavours that have taken place in the parish (author ‘Trappedinburnley’, source – Own work).

Right: Cliviger parish was historically the home of the Whitaker family, including the 16th century theologian William Whitaker. Here, William’s son, Alexander Whitaker, who was instrumental in founding the Jamestown colony, Virginia, US, is shown in white vestments baptising Pocahontas c.1612-13 (author – John Gadsby Chapman, source – Architect of the Capitol).

One thing we can be sure of is that today’s parish has been inhabited for centuries, in fact millennia. Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman artefacts have all come to light. In Anglo-Saxon times, there was a decisive battle fought somewhere in the north, the Battle of Brunanburh (937 AD), when the AngloSaxon King of Wessex, Æthelstan (c.894-939), the grandson of Alfred the Great, took on and defeated a coalition of British rivals, a victory that has been lauded as the most important prior to Hastings, as it guaranteed that there would be one ‘England’, including the north. I only mention this here because there is some speculation that this most decisive of battles could have been fought around Cliviger, although there seems scant evidence that this is so (‘scant’ equating to zero in this instance). It’s an interesting one, nevertheless.

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There’s no mention of Cliviger in William the Conqueror’s inventory of all he’d conquered, the Domesday Book, but we know that land here was granted to Kirkstall Abbey (Yorkshire) possibly around 1160, during the reign of Henry II, the Conqueror’s greatgrandson. Kirkstall remained in the picture until the late-13th century.

During the reign of Elizabeth I, one of her courtiers, in fact her principal surgeon, was given land at Cliviger for the purposes of coal mining, which was later transferred to John Towneley (c.1528-1607) of the Towneley family, whose principal home would be Towneley Hall, Burnley, from c.1200.

John Towneley was a lawyer who fell foul of officialdom for sheltering recusants (Catholics) and was fined and imprisoned on more than one occasion.

Coal mining would have a long history in the area as the open cast version of the industry was certainly still being

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practiced as recently as the 1940s and ‘50s.

Mining was clearly big business hereabouts, or potentially so at any rate, as there was also a form of limestone mining, plus lead mining in the 17th and 18th centuries at Thieveley, within the parish. The site of this venture at ‘Black Clough’ is now protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

There was also a blast furnace and pottery, plus a modest worsted (woollen) industry with Burnley its marketplace.

The famous Victorian historical novelist Harrison Ainsworth (1805-82) used Cliviger Gorge as a setting in one of his stories, ‘The Lancashire Witches’ (1849)’, a tale of mystery, magic and witchcraft based around the true story of the Pendle Witches. That gorge provides a transport thoroughfare today with both the A646 and a part of the Calder Valley rail line running through here, although sadly Holme Chapel lost www.lancmag.com

Towneley Hall, Burnley. Land at Cliviger was transferred to John Towneley (author – Humphrey Bolton / Towneley Hall, Burnley / CC BY-SA 2.0, source – www.geograph. org.uk).– John Gadsby Chapman, source – Architect of the Capitol).

Below: Late-19th century Cliviger and Portsmouth boundary stone. That’s Cliviger (Lancashire) and Portsmouth (Yorkshire), not Portsmouth in Hampshire (author – Paul Whitehouse, source – Own work).

Below: Hoof Stones Height, on Stiperden Moor, which at 1,573 feet above sea level is Cliviger Parish’s highest point (author – Bill Boaden / Trig Point on Hoof Stones Height / CC BY-SA 2.0, source – www.geograph.org.uk).

Another boundary stone of the late-19th century, this time on Burnley Road, Cliviger (author – Humphrey Bolton / The District Boundary, source – www.geograph.org.uk).

its station (Holme station) in 1930.

Being spread out in the way it is, the parish has three war memorials, including the one in the churchyard of St. John’s at Holme Chapel, which was erected in 1922 and is Grade II Listed. There are also three official war graves from the Great War in the churchyard there. The Weir & District War Memorial (1935) stands up high, overlooking the A671, and is also Grade II Listed.

Mention of Listed structures brings me on to one of my favourite subjects.

I like Listed buildings, not just because they’ll be the most historic and notable edifices that a community has but also because they help to define the place, by being the best snapshot we have of its history. The parish has 22 Listed buildings and structures, including those two war memorials above. The two Grade II* buildings are late-16th century Barcroft Hall, a former country www.lancmag.com

Below: Holme Hall, Grade II* Listed manor house, which dates back to at least the 15th century, but was rebuilt early in the 17th and then altered several times thereafter. After dereliction it’s been renovated and converted into apartments (author – ‘Trappedinburnley’, source – Own work).

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house, and ‘The Holme’ at Holme Chapel, another country house, dating to c.1603, the year of Elizabeth I’s death and accession of James I/VI. Altered several times, and once used as a retirement home, it was redeveloped as apartments as recently as 2016.

The other Grade II Listed structures include the latemedieval Stump Cross, which was one of five such ‘crosses’ that marked the line of the Long Causeway, a medieval packhorse route that ran between Sheffield (Yorkshire) and Hathersage (Derbyshire) and lots of farmhouses, as we’d expect, including Foxstone Farm, where several ancillary structures are listed, including a well and sandstone mountingblock (for getting on and off your steed), both probably of the 18th century. There’s also the Ram Inn at Holme Chapel (late18th century), which also has a mounting-block (they were clearly popular around here), St. John’s Church (1788-94), also at Holme Chapel, which is in Classical style, an ice house of the early-19th century (not an igloo, but a sandstone structure for the storage of ice).

There’s also a couple of interesting late-19th century boundary stones. Now, with no discernible ‘village’ and with

a spread-out parish, perhaps it was inevitable that the locals would become a bit fussy about their ‘boundaries’; laying claim as it were. Both are arched in shape with flat faces and divided vertically into two halves. One is inscribed ‘Borough of Todmorden’ (left) and ‘Cliviger Rural District’ (right). The other goes for ‘Yorkshire’ (left) and ‘Lancashire’ (right) as the Borough of Burnley does indeed have a border with the White Rose County.

Among the notable people and families to have touched the Cliviger story are: the Whitakers who had their historical home here (16th century William Whitaker was a noted theologian whilst his son, Alexander (1585-1616), another theologian was key in the founding of Jamestown, Virginia, converting Pocahontas to Christianity along the way); and Gen. Sir James Yorke Scarlett (1799-1871) who led the Charge of the Heavy Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War. Although successful, the charge has been overshadowed by the ill-fated Charge of the Light Brigade, which happened later on the same day. Scarlett lies buried at St. John’s Church, Holme Chapel.

The Charge of the Heavy Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War. The charge was led by Gen. Sir James Yorke Scarlett who lies buried in St. John’s Church, Cliviger parish (author – William Simpson, published by Paul & Dominic Colnaghi & Co, source – US Library of Congress’s Prints and Photographs Division).

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A view of Towneley Hall on a hot summer’s day, Burnley, Lancashire, England, Europe on Thursday, 8th, August, 2019

Did you also know...

Cliviger is the second largest parish in England, we are led to believe. Having tried to look up the largest, and failing miserably, I feel we can actually safely say we are the largest parish and wait to be told otherwise. The Wittakers where a rather ‘modern’ family. Swathes of the Parish being part of the Towneley Estate since the 1200s. Following the sale of Towneley Hall, the Park and other O’Hagan interests by my 2x Gt. Aunt, my Gt Grandmother, Lady Alice Reyntiens, eldest of Charles Towneley of Towneley’s Granddaughters and daughter of the Earl of Abingdon & Lindsey, returned to take up the reins of the remaining land entailed to the next male heir, my father Sir Simon Towneley, KCVO. The term ‘Village Hall’ in Holme Chapel is correct in that it is community hub for Holme Chapel. Originally Walk Mill had its own Band Room but this has been lost with time so I, for one, tend to refer to the Holme Chapel building as the Parish Hall, it being the only Civic building in Cliviger. Southward Bottom was not actually a settlement until land was sold by my father for the present housing estate in the 60s. Previously it had been a hamlet of two farms and known as Bulls Head.

The centre of the Parish is, in fact, Overtown but then all the facilities, school, Parish Hall, Church & pub are in Holme Chapel which was the farming end of the Parish. Walk Mill, with its now lost Pub (The Gordon Lennox), Methodist www.lancmag.com

Chapel, Band Rooms, mine etc was the industrial western end of the Parish and rarely the twain would meet!

Cliviger is also where the idea and initial implementation of the most recent National Trail and only National Trail with the status of Bridleway evolved. The Pennine Bridleway was the brainchild of the late Lady Towneley. It runs 250 miles from Derbyshire to Cumbria using as much of the historic Packhorse Ways, Drove and Corpse Roads, Saltways and Limersgates amongst others, the evocative names of the ancient trade routes are myriad, which enables all non-motorised users on hoof, cycle and foot to take air and exercise together.

Cliviger is also the home of the eye catching, award winning and rarely silent Singing, Ringing Tree which sits on Towneley land at the only point where all the boundaries of the Borough of Burnley can be seen. Part of a series of 5 Panopticans spread across various Boroughs of East Lancashire, it has become a notable symbol for the area.

There is also Calder Head. The river Calder is the only waterway to flow both east and west with the western spring on the Coal Road.

Thank you to Cosima Towneley for the additional information LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 29

Lancashire Convicts The Lancashire criminals transported to Australia since 1787.

Words: By John Wright

L

ancashire provided its fair share of the 136,000 men and 25,000 women transported to Australia since 1787.

Crimes varied. In 1802, Manchester labourer Edward Guest stole 100 pairs of stockings; Liverpool laundress Bridget L’Estrange, 18, got life in 1821 for highway robbery, married a free farmer and had six children; and Bolton horse thief Edward Entwhistle was followed to Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) in 1812 by his Edgworth Moor mother and wife, both transported for passing a forged £5 note. By the time they reached Hobart Town Edward was dead.

On the 6-8 month voyage to Australia Lancashire convicts contended with Ship Surgeons, Sarah Hassall described as “an inoffensive old woman” (she was 53), Elizabeth Roberts “lazy and scrophulous.” One punished Elizabeth Harrop “for interrupting me in my duty by tying her Arm to the rigging” and in 1818 Ellen Percival was “removed from her Berth for making Water twice on Mary Chambers’ Head.” William Barnes was one of hundreds of convicts left half-starved, cramped and unwashed below deck who died en route in the notorious Second Fleet.

A convict’s fate wasn’t predictable. 40-year-old Chorley labourer Robert Waring was speared by aborigines while out

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hunting in 1807. Bolton blacksmith Anthony Lowe, 28, stole “200 pounds of flour” in 1801 and was made “superintendent in charge of the blacksmiths,” Marjorie Tipping wrote in Convicts Unbound..., and was offered 50 acres because he was a good cattle farmer. 33-year-old Leyland labourer George Ashton was transported via Lancaster Castle gaol and made a constable in Tasmania. “His house acted as a post office, and in the absence of a lock-up, he claimed to house hundreds of prisoners.”

Bolton weaver Mary Townley, 22, was jailed by her own husband. Transported to Tasmania “for petty larceny” at the Lancaster Quarter Sessions in 1822, Phillip Tardif wrote in Notorious Strumpets and Dangerous Girls, in 1826 she was “removed to Factory for refusing to accompany her husband.”

Repeating this six times, she finally travelled 100 miles and left him properly.

After Liverpool servant Mary James was transported she married William Legg and spent the next 19 years on charges like “drunk and disorderly, making use of disgusting language and being found in bed with a man named Sutherland.” In Tasmania you’d be punished for anything. Manchester cotton weaver William McCorville’s crimes in 1823 were “strolling www.lancmag.com

Above: Hobart Town Chain Gang in the 1800s, Tasmania, Australia (Accession no.

H2408, State Library of Victoria)

Bolton weaver Mary Townley, 22, was jailed by her own husband

Right: Port Arthur Pentitentiary, south-eastern Tasmania www.lancmag.com

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Above: Port Arthur Penitentiary today, Tasman Peninsula, south-eastern Tasmania, Australia (photo by Ben Molloy)

Below: Boys’ prison at Point Puer, Port Arthur, showing the cells, and (top) near-by Isle of the Dead where some 1,500 convicts are buried in unmarked graves (State Library of Victoria)

about the streets during divine service...being indifferent... pretending to be sick...conveying tea and sugar into the Female Factory through a drain...and throwing away a farthing.”

“I will not work,” 16-year-old Manchester-born James Travis told the authorities, wrote Hamish Maxwell-Stewart and Susan Hood in Pack of Thieves?... and he didn’t.

Banished for stealing “10 pairs of stays and a bonnet” in 1833, on the Asia he got 30 lashes for “attempting to commit an unnatural crime with another boy” but was too young for the Port Arthur Penitentiary, an infamous gaol where hardened criminals were sent in Tasmania’s south-east, separated from its mainland by a narrow neck of land guarded by a line of vicious dogs.

Sent to boys’ prison, Point Puer which, Philip Hilton and Susan Hood wrote in Caught in the Act..., “was run like a military camp where each boy had a haircut once a month, fresh shirt twice a week, were marched to the beach to bathe every morning and had to salute officers and overseers,” Travis was charged “66 times, received 568 lashes, 174 days solitary and 940 days in leg irons” for “losing Government tools, throwing a book in the fire, refusing to attend school, breaking a Government lamp with a stone, insubordination and striking a fellow convict on the head with a pick-axe.” At 24 he never reoffended.

Manchester’s John Hughes was transported, astonishingly, aged 12 for “stealing a silk handkerchief from a constable,” at Point Puer punished for “hitting his overseer with a stick and spelling obscene words in school.” Manchester 14-year-old John MacCarty did hard labour in chains at Norfolk Island for “enticing a young female into his hut, giving her cakes and taking liberties with her.”

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Various convicts transported to Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania), Australia www.lancmag.com

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Above: Hobart Town on the River Derwent, Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) where transported convicts were landed, 1830 (image State Library of Victoria)

Right: Sir William Denison, Tasmania’s LieutenantGovernor who was hissed and groaned at by Kirkdale convict John Kelshaw in 1851, transportation ending 1853 (State Library of Victoria)

Convict overseers could be ridiculously harsh, ordering hard labour for 26-year-old Warrington deserter Thomas Ashton in 1842 for “falsely representing that he could milk, thresh and reap;” Oldham beef-thief George Brown on a Ticket of Leave in 1849 for “getting married to Mary Ryan without the Governor’s authority;” Liverpudlian pub-burglar William Davies on a pass in Hobart in 1845 for “having been present at a Prize Fight;” and hard-done-by Manchester pickpocket Thomas Cooley in 1847 for “refusing to work because his boots were too large.”

Some scoffed at confinement. Manchester factory boy/ pick-pocket James Gladwell was sentenced in 1827 to “3 years hard labour in chains” for absconding four times, his record saying “He states he will find ways and means to abscond from any place he may be sent to. Told he should be sent by a military escort, he said he could get away from them...Especial care to be taken in the conveyance of this man to Port Arthur and his present threats and expectations to be made known,” adding “He never arrived.”

It would be hard to think up Port Arthur’s offences, like “having turnips improperly...washing his shirt during Divine Service” and “baking light bread.” 18-year-old Liverpool 34

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It would be hard to think up Port Arthur’s offences, like “having turnips improperly

Above: Lady Juliana, carrying female convicts in 1790, here in a gale in 1792. William Barnes left to die on another Second Fleet ship (State Library of New South Wales)

Below: Contemporary drawing of convicts in a chain gang in Australia

chimney-sweep John Chap spent 14 days in a chain gang for “gross filthiness within the barrack square,” Kirkdale thief John Kelshaw in 1851 charged for “hissing and groaning at the Lieutenant-Governor when entering Government House.”

In 1848, Stockport forger George Woods nearly managed “obstructing a constable and representing himself to be the Chief Constable.”

The list goes on: “feloniously, wilfully and diabolically interfering with a dog...having lollipops in his possession… setting fire to his bedding…drawing improper figures on his slate…threatening to split the overseer’s skull with his spade… wilfully breaking his wooden leg…apprehending Godfrey Moore and biting his nose off…one woman getting solitary for “concealing a man under her bed.” Best of all was handkerchief thief ‘Billy’ Hunt. His crime was “absconding”; not unusual, except that he was “dressed as a kangaroo at the time and was attempting to hop to freedom, only to be shot at by rationed soldiers who had grown accustomed to hearty kangaroo stews.”

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Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip,

by Dr Helen Flaherty, Head of Health Promotion at Heart Research UK

Physical activity for adults while staying at home At a time when gyms are closed and the population is being asked to stay at home, finding ways to keep active can be challenging. Regular physical activity is strongly associated with a reduced risk of chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes as well as improving mental health.

Even small increases in physical activity can positively impact on health. Heart Research UK have some tips to help you meet the recommended amount of physical activity while staying at home. www.lancmag.com

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How much physical activity is recommended?

The Government recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity each week.

It is also recommended that adults engage in strengthening activities on two days each week, such as lifting weights or press ups. If you are not yet in the habit of doing this amount of physical activity, you can start small and build up to the recommended amount over time.

Moderate Intensity Activities

Replace your daily commute with physical activity If you are working at home, you may be saving time that would normally be spent on commuting to and from work.

Why not put this time to good use by scheduling in some physical activity. For example, you could go for a brisk walk, jog or cycle outdoors or walk briskly around the house, including going up and down flights of stairs.

Find a range of exercises you can do inside your home

Your heart will beat faster, you will breathe harder, you will get warmer and you can probably maintain a conversation

Find exercises that you can do in short bursts of ten minutes or more, at regular intervals throughout the day. For example, you could try some gentle weight-lifting, using cans of baked beans. The NHS provide tips for exercising without gym equipment on their Website

E.g. Brisk Walking or cycling

Don’t be a couch potato

Vigorous Intensity Activities (75 minutes weekly)

Rather than spending your evenings sitting on the sofa without moving much, why not try a few gentle exercises, such as leg raises, while watching your favourite TV show.

Your heart will beat rapidly, you will breathe much harder, you will get warmer and it will be difficult to have a conversation

Examples of some exercises you can do from your sofa can be found on the NHS website, and you can find lots more healthy tips, advice and recipes at heartresearch.org.uk.

(150 minutes weekly)

E.g. Running or football

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“A Trawl of Tales” Ron Baxter Ron Baxter was born in Fleetwood to a family with strong connections to the sea: his Grandmother’s family, for many years, ran the Fleetwood – Knott End Ferry, two of his Mother’s Uncles were lost on the S.T. Doris (S.T. = Steam Trawler) in 1914, and his elder Brother, Brian, spent all of his working life on the trawlers and oil support vessels.

Having ‘swallowed the anchor’ and with his growing interest in Folk song and drama, he started writing seriously and has produced plays, song cycles, poems and short stories, mainly, ‘though not exclusively, on nautical subjects, ranging from “The Final Trawl” in 1982 (with Fleetwood Folk Club Singers) to “Demdyke” (with the Group, Earthbound) in 2012 to mark the 400th Anniversary of the Pendle Witch Trials.

He is also a talented artist and book illustrator, and exhibited at the Tate’s Summer Exhibition in London. Away from his ‘artistic’ life, he has been a keen supporter of several local Charities, notably the R.N.L.I.

This is Ron’s first published book.

This book is dedicated to my Wife, Elizabeth, whom I have loved and has loved, put up with, and supported me for over 40 years.

Excerpt from “2nd July 1969” It was at 0312 local time on the 2nd of July 1969 that the vessel was first sighted. The lookout on the port bridge wing of the M.V. Lancaster Priory called Bob Dennison, the 2nd Mate, from the chart room. “There’s some dozy bugger out there without any lights. Four points on the port bow. There, can you see her?” Bob raised his binoculars and attempted to follow the direction of the lookout’s outstretched arm, whilst at the same time steadying himself, one handed, against the compass repeater. In the force 6 they were rolling and pitching violently as they drove into the rising sea. After a few seconds he found her, 40

lost her, then found her again. A black silhouette against the charcoal grey horizon. As the lookout had said she was showing no navigation lights, in fact she was showing no lights at all, not even a glimmer of a cabin light. As his eyes focussed on the vessel he could see by its design it was a war ship of some sort, and an old one at that. Well that at least explained the lack of ‘steaming’ lights. Typical Bob thought, they hold some sort of exercise but forget to put a Navigation Warning out!

As he watched, her bows crashing through the waves, turned. Her shape shortened until she was heading directly at him. Bob took a swift bearing from

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the compass repeater, then staggered across the heaving deck into the wheelhouse, there he switched on the radar. Whilst he waited for it to warm up he went to the key of the masthead morse light and tapped out a series of ‘D.Ts’ (what ship?) no reply. He returned to the radar screen, except for the ‘sea clutter’ it was blank even though the vessels could hardly be more than five miles apart. Wasn’t that just what you’d expect, the moment you need it, it goes on the blink! Then the lookout’s shout of “she’s altering course again!” took Bob back to the bridge wing. There she was back, more or less, on her original course, but, due to her www.lancmag.com

Extracts from “A Trawl of Tales” by Ron Baxter, reproduced here by kind permission of the Author and Publishing Editor.

“2nd July 1969” an original Tale by Ron Baxter and “Bazza” an original Poem, written by Ron Baxter and performed often by Liz Walmisley and Sue Bousfield of Legendary Folk Duo, Scolds Bridle. Original Illustrations by Mr Ron Baxter

BAZZA Bazza, he’s like great and Bazza he’s like fab Bur me Mam sez if I goes wi him I must be bloody mad He’s a deckie on’t trawlers Bur each trip thar he’s in He sez he’ll ger mi owt I like Ee! I really fancy him.

Me an ‘Bazza’s gerrin married Well, we have too, as they say ‘Cause we had a sort of slip up An nar baby’s on it’s way We’ll have ta lodge wi his mother ‘Til we gerra council flat Bur she sez she won’t baby mind.

An’ I dorn’t think much of that!

Bazza’s now a daddy, bur I don’t think he understands I need t’brass fur baby He wants ta spend it wi his pals.

I sez ‘grow up, thars a wife een kid ta keep Bur he sez he needs some fun After fishing fur 3 weeks I’m really mad wi Bazza, I’ve had ta go ta werk Tracy she’s just started school an’ need new coat an’ shoes an skirts He! He sez I should stay at home So I sed ‘tell me how We can manage on just your wage’ An’ we had a flamin’ row

previous manoeuvre, a lot closer. Bob didn’t like what he then had to do but the Master’s instructions were quite specific, “call me at once if in any doubt of other vessels intentions.” With a close quarters situation potentially in the offing it was only prudent to call the Old Man particularly as the radar was of no use and the other ship was carrying no lights.

“Master here”, a sleepy Captain Banks replied to Bob’s ‘phone call. He didn’t waste time over details but just asked the Master to come to the bridge at once. As Bob returned to the bridge wing, he glanced at the radar screen, still blank. The lookout who had been www.lancmag.com

I’m thinkin’ of leaving Bazza His last trip made a loss. yet he went an’ ordered a Burton suit An’ he won’t tell me the cost He never wants me out wi him He just goes out wi his mates laughin’ an’ drinking’ an yarnin’ Well! He’ll remember me, when it’s too bloody late.

I won’t have ta be leavin’ Bazza Ya see he’s gone an’ he’s left me They say he didn’t suffer much Death’s swift in’t Bear Island Sea He went ower t’wall in a force 8 There were nowt that t’skipper could do So I’m a widda, wi a child, an’ memories, Good uns? Well happen a few “In loving memory of my Bazza” I’ve purit in’t paper again As I do each year on’t day thar he died So our Trace’ll remember his name Now he weren’t t’greatest of husbands Bur I think of him as that lad Who sed he’d ger mi owt I liked Ee, in them days my Bazza were, well, just Fab.

keeping a close eye on the other vessel, pointed out her direction. Bob took another bearing from the compass.

The bearing had hardly changed, they were on a collision course. Viewing her through his binoculars, he could now make out some details, two gun turrets for’ad, tall masts and funnels and what appeared to be an aircraft on a catapult amidships. Bob mused on this, it must be one of the South American cruisers, no up-to-date Navy had carried catapult aircraft since the war. He signalled her again, with the same result, were they all blind? …

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We’ll Meet Again!

Blackpool pays its own tributes on VE Day Anniversary

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he nation’s favourite holiday resort is paying its own special tributes to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

Blackpool evokes fond memories for those evacuated to the resort, for the troops based here during the wartime years and for those who found respite from the horrors of war.

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Winter Gardens Dome With the national events scaled back and Blackpool closed to visitors because of the Coronavirus pandemic, the resort is determined to add some sparkle to the celebrations on May 8 with a mixture of tributes and virtual activities.

To mark the occasion, some of the key venues and attractions will be illuminated in red, white and blue over the Bank Holiday weekend including the Big Wheel on Central Pier, the dome of the Winter Gardens, the promenadefronted Hampton by Hilton hotel, the seafront Cenotaph and the Lightworks Illuminations depot.

In addition, the heart on The Blackpool Tower will be transformed into a Union Flag and the Blackpool Town Hall bell will ring out for five minutes at 3pm on the day, with both venues also flying the Union Flag.

Although the resort is out of bounds to visitors because of the lockdown, there are plenty of ways to thank our nation’s heroes from the comfort of home.

VisitBlackpool has commissioned two special recordings of the poem, Tribute To The Millions.

Blackpool’s own award-winning actress, Lucy Fallon, who starred in Coronation Street for five years, and TV star Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen, who is the creative curator for the world-famous Blackpool Illuminations, have both recorded readings of the commemorative poem from their homes.

These can be viewed as part of a virtual guide on how families can enjoy the VE Day celebrations at www.visitblackpool.com. It also includes:

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• A gallery of over 120 digitised photographs produced in association with Heritage Blackpool and The Blackpool Gazette newspaper giving a fascinating insight into the crucial role that the resort played during the war.

• How to raise a toast to our heroes and join the national “We’ll Meet Again” singalong • Tips on how to arrange your own garden party and make your own bunting • Special educational activities for children And if you are missing all the fun and entertainment that Blackpool has to offer, there is also a Virtual Holiday package on the visitblackpool.com website featuring a brilliant online collection of rollercoaster rides, water slides, tours of venues and attractions, educational videos, and plenty of fun and games for the family to enjoy.

Cllr Gillian Campbell, Deputy Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “Blackpool is a place that evokes so many happy memories for a generation of people who came here during the wartime years.

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Winter Gardens Dome Interior “Over the years, our relationship with the armed forces community has been an enduring one and, in normal circumstances, we would have loved to have hosted a fitting celebration to mark such a special event in the nation’s calendar.

“But we will make sure that Blackpool marks the occasion and we hope that our visitors will enjoy what we are doing from the comfort of their homes. We look forward to meeting them again when it’s safe to come back.

Cenotaph Blackpool lit up blue and red www.lancmag.com

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Townend Historic Farmhouse the history of one family working and living in the Troutbeck Valley.

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ocated in Troutbeck near Windermere in Cumbria, Townend is a well- preserved 17th century farmhouse that was in the hands of the Browne family for over 400 years until it was donated to the National Trust in 1948.

It provides a unique insight into the history of one family working and living in the Troutbeck Valley.

It is located on a hillside overlooking Troutbeck Valley.

Famous local author Beatrix Potter said that the view from here was her favourite in the whole of The Lakes.

There is parking at Townend, but for the hikers out there, a circular walk from Windermere to Orrest head and on to Townend then back is a scenic way to reach the house.

George Browne was from a family of sheep farmers. He was a statesman which meant he was a relatively wealthy yeoman farmer. He was not poor, but neither was he a member of the nobility. He was what would be referred to as ‘upper- middle class’ these days.

George built the house on the occasion of his marriage to Sarah Rawlinson in 1626. It was passed down through generations of Browne’s until 1948.

By the standards of the day it was a comfortable farmhouse and is a good example of vernacular Lake District architecture. The house features 3 squat cylindrical chimneys and oak – mullioned windows. It is built of locally sourced whitewashed stone and slate.

It is situated in a quaint traditional colourful cottage garden with a selection of outhouses including a dairy.

But it is inside the house that the real treasures are to be found. The house is home to over 400 years of domestic implements, heavy oak furniture, papers, and woodworks accumulated by the Brownes.

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Enter through the kitchen and you will find artefacts and treasures giving an insight into 400 years of a farming family’s history including a traditional long- barrelled flintlock rifle. The kitchen contains wooden chests, cupboards, sideboards, and a grandfather clock.

Much of the intricately carved furniture was built especially for the Brownes.

Moving on from the kitchen, the library is also of particular interest. It contains over 1300 titles with some dating as far back as 1600. It also contains 45 books that are entirely unique in that they are the only copies in the world. Some of these 45 are slightly bawdy scrapbooks called chapbooks.

One example of a chapbook is the tale of ‘The crafty chambermaid’s garland’. This tale from 1770 tells of a wealthy merchant who falls in love with his mother’s maid.

He tries to seduce her, but she is a canny lass. She invites him to her chamber but unbeknown to him she has got an old toothless hag to hide under the covers pretending to be her. Needless to say, the Merchant gets the fright of his life! However, the tale has a happy ending as the merchant’s family are so impressed and amused by the plucky chambermaid that they consent to him marrying her despite their differing social backgrounds.

Also bringing history to life visitors can ‘meet George Browne’ (circa 1900) who will give them a tour of the house and tell its fascinating story.

If you’re looking for a unique insight into the history of the working farmers of the area then Townend is one place to put on your Lake District check list. www.lancmag.com

WE ARE STILL HERE WORKING ON YOUR BEHALF ONLY IN A DIFFERENT WAY Our teams are working from home, taking calls and answering any questions you have about moving home, family matters, Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney. We can still do all of these things for you and more, just in a slightly different way.

www.vincentssolicitors.co.uk

To find out more call us on 01772 555 176 to speak to any of our team or email enquiries@vslaw.co.uk. We are here for you.

NEW BOARD MEMBERS ANNOUNCED FOR MANCHESTER INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL Manchester International Festival (MIF) today confirms the appointment of three new Board members: the writer Jeanette Winterson, journalist Ngozi (Goz) Ugochukwu, and Chief Executive, Food, The Co-op, Jo Whitfield.

Jeanette, Ngozi and Jo bring substantial insight and experience to MIF’s Board, which is chaired by Urban Splash founder Tom Bloxham MBE and is seeking to ensure that the Company is equipped to build on the success it has had since being launched in 2017.

Their appointment comes at a significant time for MIF, which is planning next year’s Festival and looking ahead to the opening of the major arts space The Factory – currently being built in Manchester and its future home – plus its continuing programme of pre-Factory events.

MIF, like the rest of the cultural sector, is also having to evaluate the impact of the Covid-19 crisis and has already brought in a number of initiatives that respond to the situation – these include the MIF LIVE programme of online events and a number of initiatives to support local artists during lockdown.

Tom Bloxham MBE, Manchester International Festival Chair, commented: “We are really delighted to welcome Jeanette, Goz and Jo onto the MIF Board. They have fantastic enthusiasm and energy, plus a breadth of experience and knowledge that is going to be invaluable as we take forward our plans for the next few years.

“As well as planning next year’s Festival, we are developing our plans for The Factory, which marks a real step change, not just for the organisation, but for Manchester and the whole of the country. We’re building a strong and talented team to ensure we have the resilience and a robust strategy in place so that we can continue to produce thrilling art and reach even more people.

This will be even more crucial as we all come to terms with Covid-19 and its full impact becomes clearer.”

MIF made a number of other significant staff appointments earlier this year, to strengthen the team as it prepares for The Factory. They are Executive Director Randel Bryan, whose background includes Endemol Shine and Discovery Education; Director of Music Jane Beese, who has joined from the Roundhouse; and Helen Faulkner, Director of Audiences, who comes from the Southbank Centre.

For more information about MIF Live and the rest of MIF’s programme of activities for the lockdown, please visit the website.

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JEANETTE WINTERSON Jeanette Winterson CBE published her first novel Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit in 1985. She was adopted by Pentecostal evangelists, and left home to live in a Mini, before going to Oxford University to study English Literature. She later scripted Oranges into a BAFTA winning drama for the BBC. Jeanette has written novels, short stories, essays, journalism, TV scripts and documentaries, books for children, and numerous pieces about the visual arts - a particular interest of hers. She collaborated with Antony Gormley on LAND, five essays about his site-specific work for the Landmark Trust. Her work is published in 22 countries around the world. Her most recent novel FRANKISSTEIN: A Love Story, was long listed for the 2019 Booker Prize. Jeanette is in the middle of writing a book of essays about AI and its impact on the human future, due to be published by Random House in 2021.

Jeanette is Professor of New Writing at the University of Manchester. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy.

As a working-class girl born in Manchester, she believes that art is for everyone - part of our mental health and daily creativity. www.lancmag.com

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JO WHITFIELD

NGOZI (GOZ) UGOCHUKWU

Jo is Chief Executive of Food for The Co-operative Group (Co-op).

She was promoted to the role after less than a year with the organisation and has devised and led a strategy that is delivering rapid, radical transformation of the business.

Her innovation drive and brave new vision for what the Co-op can be are yielding exceptionally strong results and a newly motivated, highly engaged colleague group.

Jo was recently awarded the prestigious Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year prize.

A qualified accountant, Jo’s career began with Ernst & Young, before broadening her experience in finance with companies such as Northern Foods, Matalan and George.

She strengthened her knowledge of retail at Asda, taking on a key role spanning Operations, e-Commerce & Strategy across the International business. Latterly, she led the commercial, buying and merchandising teams for Asda Money, Asda Mobile and General Merchandise.

She is experienced in all aspects of commercial and operational activities, has deep understanding of e-Commerce and use of digital technology, and is accomplished in start-ups and major business transactions including M&A. Jo has led a re-imagining of the Co-op that has seen the company’s presence and partnerships extend to festivals, 50

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including Glastonbury and events such as Parkrun, as well as a brand frontage on the ubiquitous Coronation Street.

She is a modern, positive leader who spends proper time with people, listening to and understanding their perspectives. She puts tremendous value on employee job satisfaction and has instigated numerous changes to promote professional development, well-being, safety and support for colleagues. This has led to her campaign to promote store colleague safety, going to the heart of Government to meet ministers and press the case for greater protection foreshop workers. In addition, Jo and her team have brought pace and innovation to commitments around sustainability-Co-op is the lowest producer of plastic out of all of the retailers, and Jo’s focus is to move away from plastic through technology and new ways of doing business.

Outside of her executive role, Jo’s activities are mainly focused around inclusivity, mentoring and networking.

She is an Ambassador for Girls Out Loud, a not-for-profit focusing on developing young female talent, and also for the networking programme, Women of the Future.

Jo has recently pioneered a new network for the grocery industry, and launched Grocery Girls, a trailblazing initiative that has drawn support from major retailers and suppliers, bringing women together to share experiences, career journeys and inspiration. Jo is also a serving member of the Women’s Business Council. www.lancmag.com

About Manchester International Festival

Ngozi (Goz) Ugochukwu is a creative practitioner in a wide range of disciplines. She’s been at the BBC in Manchester since 2011; her role has covered journalism, research, directing, content producing and editing.

At BBC Children’s, she has worked on many shows and apps and was heavily involved in the Children’s Global Media Summit, which aimed to help shape the future of children’s media, sourcing international speakers, casting children from two to 16 years old from diverse backgrounds for films to be shown online and in the summit. For BBC Education she has worked on Bitesize and on a programme called Spin (BBC2), travelling across the UK working with parents, organisations and youth groups, finding and interviewing challenging teenagers from various backgrounds.

Ngozi produced, directed and edited a documentary about her travels and experience in Cuba, which won an award and was shown internationally at film festivals.

As a freelance editor, she has edited documentaries in Spanish, French and Arabic.

In addition to her work in the broadcast media, Ngozi has performed nationally and internationally in wheelchair ballroom and Latin dance, competing for Great Britain.

She is a keen photographer, having featured at the Manchester Open Exhibition early this year and has an online photo exhibition for Disability Arts Online happening at the end of the month. For the past year, Ngozi has been working with Manchester International Festival through its People’s Forum. The Forum meets monthly and advises on and informs MIF’s activities, including The Factory, from the perspective of residents living and working in Greater Manchester.

www.lancmag.com

Manchester International Festival (MIF) was founded as the world’s first festival of original, new work and special events and is an artist-led festival reflecting the spectrum of performing arts, visual arts and popular culture.

Staged every two years in Manchester, MIF has commissioned, produced and presented world premieres by artists including Marina Abramović, Damon Albarn, Laurie Anderson, Björk, Boris Charmatz, Jeremy Deller, Idris Elba and Kwame Kwei-Armah, Elbow, Philip Glass, Akram Khan, David Lynch, Steve McQueen, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Yoko Ono, Thomas Ostermeier, Abida Parveen, Maxine Peake, Punchdrunk, Skepta, The xx and Zaha Hadid Architects.

These and other world-renowned artists from different art forms and backgrounds create dynamic, innovative and forward-thinking new work, staged in venues across Greater Manchester – from theatres, galleries and concert halls to railway depots, churches and car parks. MIF works closely with venues, festivals and other cultural organisations globally, whose financial and creative input helps to make many of these projects possible and ensures that work made at MIF goes on to be seen around the world.

MIF supports a year-round Creative Engagement programme, bringing opportunities for people from all backgrounds, ages and from all corners of the city to get involved during the Festival and year-round, as volunteers, as participants in shows, through skills development and a host of creative activities, such as Festival in My House.

MIF will also run The Factory, the new world-class cultural space currently being built in the heart of Manchester and designed by internationally-renowned architects Rem Koolhaas’ Office for Metropolitan Architecture. The Factory will commission, present and produce a yearround programme, featuring new work from the world’s greatest artists and offering a space to make, explore and experiment. Attracting up to 850,000 visitors, The Factory will add £1.1 billion to the economy and create 1,500 jobs. Its pioneering programme of skills, training and engagement will benefit local people and the next generation of creative talent from across the city, whilst apprenticeships and trainee schemes are already underway during the construction phase.

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Hedges House “Hedges House is a fabulous place.

My dear Mum stayed there, and I can’t praise them enough in every way”. “Superb staff. Feels like a hotel”.

“Nice and clean. Lovely food. Loads of entertainment for the residents.

Compassionate, caring, but most of all professional”.

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ow, it has certainly been described as one of the best care homes on the Fylde Coast, which is quite an accolade, and I’ve opened up with just a few of the unsolicited comments left on the home’s Facebook page by grateful families. I’m talking about Hedges House Care Home in Lytham and I’ll shortly be learning more from jointowner Hilary Chadwick.

I wanted to tell you though that I do have a bit of ‘form where care homes are concerned. My own Dad is currently in a dementia care home and is living a quietly contented life.

My wife’s parents spent their last years in a care home too and it was through them that I was both introduced to that environment and learned firsthand about the dedication and love of the staff. We all want our loved ones to live out the sunset of their lives in a dignified setting and manner.

That word, ‘dignity’, was particularly

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important for my wife, where her Dad was concerned, a gentleman who’d fought throughout the whole of WW2 and was one of the famed ‘Desert Rats’.

Meanwhile, at Hedges House, a home on Lytham’s Church Road, there are 32 rooms, all en-suite, with potentially 34 residents, as two of those rooms are doubles, that could be made available to either couples or siblings.

It’s unusual for those doubles to be taken as it’s not often that a husband and wife will both require residential care, but there are exceptions, my late in-laws being a notable one from my point of view. Hedges House has been owned by Hilary and husband Robert since 2002, so they fall into the dual role of being both care providers and owners. They’re clearly running a good ship as the last inspection report saw Hedges House score ‘good’ in all five categories, so an emphatic ‘good’ overall.

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Hilary & Robert are employers too, of course, with in excess of 30 staff at Hedges House, although you won’t ever see them all, as part-time and shift workers help to create a flexible and happy workforce. I say ‘happy’ as there’s plenty of long-service among the team with three members of staff having been there from before Rob and Hilary bought the home. There’s no big turnover of staff, which tells you all you need to know really. It’s a consideration that has helped to create the ambience, the harmonious atmosphere that is Hedges House, something appreciated by residents, staff and visitors.

Continuity matters.

I’m writing this on 18th May 2020.

We are, of course, in the midst of the Coronavirus epidemic, which has put care homes on the front pages of national newspapers in recent weeks. All I wish to say here is that Hedges House has been fortunate enough to have no www.lancmag.com

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COVID-19 cases as I write. All staff and residents have been tested and all have tested negative for the virus. Everyone associated with the home will be hoping that things stay that way. No-one in the home has been cut off from their loved ones either. We’ve all had to find new, sometimes novel ways to stay in touch, and Skype and Facetime have been used to enable residents to not only speak to their families but, most importantly, see them too.

Hilary modestly told me that she was the least important person at Hedges House and for that reason she’s not been in the home at all during the Lockdown period. “It’s just not necessary for me to be there on a daily basis, so it makes sense, particularly at the moment, to stay away. I have an outstanding management team in the home (Michelle Neville, the Manager, and Vivien Mooney, the Assistant Manager). Both of them are absolutely fantastic and I know that I can safely leave the day-to-day running of Hedges House in their more than capable hands. I know it can sound like a bit of a cliché, but the management of any concern is only as good as its staff, and I know that Michelle and Vivien 54

are supported by a wonderful team and I know that they would want me to say that.” This is a well-managed and maintained home, with excellent maintenance and housekeeping managers helping to guarantee that quality environment for residents and staff alike.

It’s a bit of a myth that care home residents sit around all day I had a look at the home’s Facebook page as I wanted to see what sort of activities the residents get involved in. It’s a bit of a myth that care home residents sit around all day. I know this from experience as one of my other hats is that of public speaker and I’ve been into my local care homes giving talks. One talk I gave was ‘Mr Selfridge Fact & Fiction’. I was soon being bombarded with anecdotes about trips to Harrods and Liberty. Another talk I gave was ‘Dad’s Army Fact & Fiction’, which soon had the residents reminiscing about both the comedic TV series and the war. Mention of the war

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reminds me of those recent VE Day commemorations, an event that was a big hit with the residents at Hedges House. They all had their flags and no doubt their memories too.

That Facebook page told me all I needed to know about how lively Hedges House can be. If it’s true that ‘every picture tells a story’, then here is a montage of pictures, every one of them a joyous activity, clearly enjoyed by laughing souls and beaming faces.

Simply put, there are all sorts of activities, everything from that VE Day singalong, planting sunflower seeds for the sunflower competition, and fairground games of ‘Hook a Duck’, to games of ping pong, painting ‘Stay Safe Rainbows’ and cake baking. It seems like there’s something different and innovative going on every day.

In terms of setting, Hedges House has the best of both worlds. Around the back is a nice garden, with an astro turfed lawned area and a courtyard with comfortable garden furniture. It’s a place to relax, doze, get a bit of Vitamin D, and recharge the batteries before the next activity. Whilst, admittedly, there is not much room at the front, as Hedges House is sited on a main www.lancmag.com

road, Church Road, this is a positive thing for residents as there’s always something going on outside that’s worth watching. And then there’s Lytham itself, an elegant, genteel town in a wellkept district. It’s possible to walk from Hedges House into Lytham and this is something that families will often do.

That position on the main road gives residents an excellent view of Lytham Club Day when floats stop outside the home during their procession into the town centre. They literally come right past the front of the home. Lytham in Bloom is another occasion when the town comes alive with colour and the home plays its part in this with tubs and hanging baskets that are a riot of complimentary shades. The home enters the competition every year and has won an award in probably each of the last ten years for its displays which are masterminded by Robert, the man with the green fingers and nurturing skills. That’s one reason why Robert might be seen around the home a bit more than Hilary, whose focus is more on the other family business, a combination of interior design and building refurbishment. If it sounds like life couldn’t possibly be dull, you’d be www.lancmag.com

right. Hilary and Robert will be moving to their new home soon as well!

It’s worth being in the town for Lytham in Bloom because it really has become quite something. As Hilary told me: “It’s always gratifying to hear the complimentary comments made by passers-by. It makes us feel good about what we’re doing. We like to think that our displays benefit not just everyone associated with the home but play their part in brightening up Lytham for the town’s residents and its many visitors, particularly in the summer”.

Another Facebook comment I liked was “Me and Mum are moving in !”

That got me thinking about my own future and places I’d like to retire to with a few of my books. I’ve been pretty well behaved over the years and can be quite sociable when I want to be: I wonder if Hedges House would have me?!

Hedges House Care Home 37-39 Church Road, Lytham, FY8 5LL. Tel: 01253 739930.

E-mail: michelle@hedgeshouse.co.uk Web: www.hedgeshouse.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/ hedgeshouse/

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Oltco Lancaster plays its part in recycling the equivalent of over 30 million plastic straws in driveways across the uk Oltco Lancaster, led by Roger Hardaker, has been committed to tackling the issue of plastic waste and has played an integral role in Oltco’s Recycle Bound success story.

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t the beginning of 2019, Oltco came up with a unique solution to help tackle the issue of plastic waste littering the globe. Now, 12 months on Oltco’s Recycle Bound product has recycled the equivalent of over 30,000,000 plastic straws and is being used not only on driveways up and down the country but also at some of the UK’s leading hotels and attractions.

Recycle Bound is made utilising waste plastic (straws, plastic drink bottles and plastic food packaging) from a plastic recycling point, each square metre of Recycle Bound consists of the equivalent of 3,000 plastic straws. Therefore, if Recycle Bound was laid on a standard 50 square metre drive, the equivalent of 150,000 plastic straws would be recycled in the process.

Oltco was inspired to develop the product after growing increasingly concerned about the devastating environmental impact plastic waste was having on the planet.

It took two years to develop the product and since it was launched, the company has already recycled the equivalent of a staggering 30,000,000 plastic straws. Recycle Bound has been so successful it is already winning awards including being named runner up for ‘Recycled Product of the Year’ in the National Recycling Awards.

Although mainly used on driveways, paths and patios for the domestic market, Recycle Bound has also been used on larger commercial projects.

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Oltco’s Co-Director, Tom Stringer, said: “We have been thrilled by the response to Recycle Bound. Every member of our team has fully embraced it and it has proved hugely popular with our customers, both residential and commercial. The number of customers who are asking for it to be used on their driveways, patios and paths is growing all the time.

The issue of plastic waste has long been a concern for us here at Oltco, we see first-hand the impact it’s having on our beaches and wider environment.

It is a totally awesome product which is hard wearing and will last for years and helps rid the world of some of the plastic waste.”

Oltco Lancaster’s Roger Hardaker adds: “Recycle Bound has been hugely successful and we are grateful for all the individuals, and local companies based in Lancaster who have come on board in a bid to help us tackle the global issue of plastic waste. We are proud to have already installed Recycle Bound in areas including Lancaster and Millom.”

Oltco Director, Johnny Pearce, adds: “At Oltco we never rest on our laurels. It’s in our DNA to innovate and we are constantly looking for new ways to reduce our impact on the environment. We are now working on another world-first product that will also utilise waste plastic and will be a game changer when it is launched later this year so watch this space.” www.lancmag.com

Residents keeping in touch with their families.

Quotes taken from CQC Inspection Report 27th February 2020.

“I am very safe – the staff are very good. I don’t know what I would do without them”

CQC Inspection Report 27th February 2020: OVERALL GOOD.

Caring, experienced and long-serving staff committed to providing a comfortable, safe yet stimulating environment for all residents irrespective of their level of dependency 32 bedrooms all with en-suite facilities

Excellent home cooked food (5 star rating) Private garden to rear of property and beautifully presented gardens. (Winners of Lytham in Bloom awards for 8 consecutive years).

“It feels like home because it is my home. I never feel lonely.

I am quite contented” For more information, please contact: Michelle Neville (Manager) - michelle@hedgeshouse.co.uk Alternatively, please call in for an informal chat.

Hedges House Residential Care Home 37/39 Church Road, Lytham, Lancashire. FY8 5LL Tel: 01253 739930 www.hedgeshouse.co.uk Find us on

World’s largest photo competition returns as fourth CEWE Photo Award opens for entries A photo competition which connects photographers from across the world has announced it is open for entries from the 18th May.

The CEWE Photo Award, the world’s largest photo competition, is asking amateur and professional photographers from across the globe to submit photos which celebrate the competition’s ‘Our world is beautiful’ theme.

Entrants will be able to enter their photos into 10 different categories: aerial photos, cooking & food, nature, animals, landscapes, sport, people, travel & culture, hobby & leisure and architecture & technology.

Now in its fourth edition, the CEWE Photo Award will be judged by a panel of international experts who will award prizes worth a total of more than £250,000 to 1,000 winners.

They will also select 10 category winners and an overall winner of the competition.

Entrants will have one year to submit their photos and, in this current climate, CEWE is encouraging budding photographers to find the beauty in the

small things, as well as finding fresh perspectives in ordinary life in a time when many of us can’t stray too far from home. However, the competition is also open to images taken at any time, meaning you can submit photos that you have taken in the past.

Clare Moreton, photo expert at CEWE UK, said: “Now more than ever before, photos are connecting people from around the globe, so it’s a great time to be launching the fourth edition of the CEWE Photo Award. With 448,152 photos submitted last year, the CEWE Photo Award is now the world’s largest photo competition and we are looking forward to sharing lots more beautiful images from photography enthusiasts from across the world this year.”

As part of the launch of the CEWE Photo Award, CEWE has shared some of the best images from last year’s competition.

About CEWE CEWE is Europe’s leading photo printing company, known for its passion for photography and commitment to delivering outstanding print quality.

CEWE is dedicated to helping people share their memories by producing millions of personalised photo products each year.

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One of its most successful innovations is the award winning CEWE PHOTOBOOK. Drawing on 50 years of printing experience, the CEWE PHOTOBOOK has been voted the best in the world by the experts at TIPA (Technical Image Press Association).

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Based in Warwick near Royal Leamington Spa, the company’s state of the art production facility houses some of the very latest in printing technology and prints photo books, wall art, calendars, gifts and more. Combining your creativity with the CEWE craftsmanship is the best way

to share the photographs you love the most.

For more information about CEWE, visit: https:// cewe-photoworld.com/

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‘Funny time’ – taken by David Charouz in Rokycany, Czech Republic.

‘Sibling love’ – taken by Sabine Doppelhofer in Graz, Austria.

‘Window on Mont Blanc’ by Olivier Schmitt, taken in the Alps, France.

‘Stepwell’ by Tor Olav Olsen, taken in Jaipur, India.

‘Izrael’ by Ronald Hilmer, taken in Jerusalem, Israel.

‘Timide’ – by Stephane Delckié, taken in Delhi, India.

‘Sleeping Koala’ by Ralph Haldimann, taken in Zurich, Switzerland.

‘The Bearded Hermit’ by Ondřej Chvátal, taken in Tábor, Czech Republic.

‘The swim’ by Tibor Nuriev, taken in Karcag, Hungary.

‘Divided water’ by Morten Tellefsen, taken in Bergen, Norway.

‘Urban snapshots’ by Misa ATO, taken in Montpellier, France.

To enter the competition

To enter the competition and for more information, visit: https://contest.cewe.de/cewephotoaward-2021

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Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip,

by Dr Helen Flaherty, Head of Health Promotion at Heart Research UK

Physical activity for children and young people aged 5-18 while staying at home

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Regular physical activity in children and young people is associated with improved learning, better mental health, healthier weight status and better cardiovascular fitness. At a time when the population is being asked to stay at home, finding ways to keep children physically active can be challenging. Heart Research UK have some tips to help children and young people meet the recommended amount of physical activity while staying at home. www.lancmag.com

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How much physical activity is recommended?

Work out together

The Government recommends that children and young people aged 5 to 18 years engage in two types of physical activity every week: aerobic exercises and activities that strengthen muscles and bones.

Children and young people should aim to do at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily.

Try exercising as a family as this can be motivating for children and young people. Going for a family bike ride/walk or dancing around the house to your favourite songs can be a fun way to get moving together. You could also inspire others by posting videos of your activities on social media.

Aerobic Exercises Your heart will beat faster, you will breathe harder, you will get warmer and you can probably maintain a conversation E.g. Brisk Walking, running, cycling, skateboarding or riding a scooter

Activities to strengthen muscles and bones E.g. Skipping, sit-ups, press-ups, dance & games such as tug-of-war

Avoid too much time sitting in front of a screen It is common for children and young people to spend too much time sitting in front of a screen. Why not limit this to a set amount of time each day/week and schedule in some time for getting active and away from the screen.

Make physical activity fun Look online for inspiration for getting kids and young people active and having some fun. Change 4 Life provide some good tips https://www.nhs.uk/change4life/activities/indooractivities and there are also some online Physical Activity coaches who run free online sessions for kids.

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BOOKS Our roundup of this months literary delights

the real beatrix potter Author: Nadia Cohen The Real Beatrix Potter is a fascinating and revealing biography of one of the world’s most cherished children’s authors.

Beatrix Potter’s famous little white books have enchanted generations of young readers who adored the characters she created and of course her own distinctive illustrations.

Born into a typically repressed Victorian family it was assumed that Beatrix would achieve little more than finding herself a rich husband, and so there was no point in bothering to educate her. But the Potters underestimated their daughter. Stifled by the lack of stimulation, she educated herself in art, science, and of course a great love of the natural world.

The success of Peter Rabbit proved her to be creative genius who could have become the toast of the London literary scene, but when her fiancé tragically died Beatrix retreated to the Lake District where she reinvented herself as a successful farmer, a canny businesswoman and an early environmental pioneer.

Passionately campaigning to save the area from development she helped establish the National Trust, and despite her great wealth Beatrix lived out her days in humble anonymity.

Highlights Since Victorian convention considered educating girls to be pointless, Beatrix learnt about the anatomy of animals by sneaking them into the nursery of their Kensington mansion, where she gassed and dissected them herself.

She defied her socially ambitious parents by accepting her publisher’s offer of marriage, but he tragically died just a month later.

A trailblazing feminist, she fled to the Lake District, and bought her own farm without any financial help from a man - a scandalous thing to do at the time.

She built up a property empire, buying dozens of farms and swathes of land to protect it from the onslaught of ruthless developers looking to exploit the newfound popularity of the Lake District.

Defying convention did not marry until she was 47, far too late for her to have children of her own, and so she left all her property and over 4000 acres of land to the National Trust, a newly established charity she supported from its infancy.

RRP: £14.99 ISBN: 9781526752758 192 PAGES · PAPERBACK PUBLISHED: APRIL 2020 WHITE OWL

About the author Nadia Cohen is an author who has written numerous historical and contemporary biographies. The Real Beatrix Potter is the latest in a series of fascinating in-depth biographies about apparently whimsical children’s story tellers who actually hid a darker side behind the public facade. Others in the series include The Extraordinary Life of AA Milne, The Real Roald Dahl and The Real Enid Blyton.

As an entertainment reporter she worked at various newspapers and magazines in London and New York, covering film festivals, premieres and award ceremonies around the world. She now lives in London with her family.

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Outdoor Living

Cora Rope Dining Chairs & Cora 120cm Round Dining Table.

Comes with Kettler 3 Year Wood Warranty

Plant Nursery, Garden Centre, Cafe & Food Shop Open 7 days a week 9.00-5.00 & Sunday 10.30-4.30 We’re on the A6 one mile south of Milnthorpe, Cumbria Tel:www.lancmag.com 015395 63630 | www.beethamnurseries.co.uk

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Milnrow

A modest sized town with a lot of history Words: Stephen Roberts

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N

ow, you know me by now. I love my history and will enthuse over a place that has a few shovelfuls of the stuff. My latest foray takes me to a modestly-sized town, Milnrow (population c.13,000 in 2011) but whilst it might be on the small ish side it certainly punches above its weight in terms of the history it’s packed in and the number of Listed buildings it possesses (another particular favourite of mine).

The town of Milnrow, close to the M62’s Jcn. 21, forms part of the borough of Rochdale, in fact it’s just a www.lancmag.com

View over Newhey and Milnrow, with St. Thomas’s, Newhey in the foreground, which has been described as the district’s most distinctive and splendid building (author – ‘BrapBrapBrrrap’, source – Own work).

couple of miles east of the town centre and sits on the River Beal.

In any assessment of Milnrow we should also include the village of Newhey, which became a part of the urban district in 1894.

Habitation of this area goes way back, according to archaeological finds, back to the Romans and comfortably beyond. There was certainly then some seasonal Anglo-Saxon settlement and farming here and this is possibly when the name ‘Milnrow’ or something Old English along those lines emerged, the name suggestive of a ‘mill with a row www.lancmag.com

of houses’. There are other possible explanations, including a local ‘Milne’ family who owned several dwellings.

We know that the land hereabouts was owned by Normans after the 1066 conquest, with marginal hill farming featuring, but with permanent settlement now replacing the seasonal farming of former times. One of the prominent Norman families was that of the ‘Cleggs’, whose descendants would build Clegg Hall, which is still one of the area’s most notable buildings (see below).

The community’s expansion really began, however, with the woollen trade of the 17th century, as well as local coal mining, a shallow version of which was certainly recorded in 1610. By 1624, there appear to have only been six cottages in Milnrow, although there were others in the neighbourhood.

It was woollen weaving that changed everything though with the initial industry being cottage based with stone weavers’ cottages being built, with living accommodation on the lower floors and ‘loom-shops’ on the top floor. There was still no mill or factory in Milnrow

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though come the turn of the 19th century. The transition though from cottage industry to the ‘factory system’ was coming.

Progress was rapid, if progress it was, and by 1815 Milnrow had its first three woollen mills, with a couple of pubs appearing by 1828 to lubricate all those thirsty workers. The 19th century would see the town grow still further as a recognisable mill town, with cotton spinning and wool weaving the main industries, but also chain-making, metal working and brick making at Newhey, and more housing was consequently needed for these workers hence the addition of rows of terraced houses to the townscape. Mass-produced textiles from Milnrow’s mills were exported around the world with the arrival of the railway in 1863, which replaced the Rochdale Canal as the main means of getting goods in and out of the area. Although Milnrow lost its cotton spinning and coal mining during the 20th century (Butterworth Hall Colliery employed around 300 men by 1912 but closed in 1928) and was merged in with Rochdale in 1974, it manages to retain its distinctiveness to this day. The last of the cotton mills, Butterworth Hall Mill, was demolished in the late-1990s and has been superseded by a housing estate.

Despite some losses, Milnrow is blessed with listed buildings, 49 of them no less, including some surviving 18th century sandstone weavers’ cottages, three-storey ‘fine stone domestic workshops’ replete with mullioned windows. Three of those listed buildings are Grade II* Listed and two of these betray the area’s farming antecedents, with both Rough Bank Farmhouse and Birchinley Manor Farmhouse, being of the early-17th century, having the higher designation. The other Grade II* Listed building is Clegg Hall, a privately-owned stone country house at nearby Littleborough, on Milnrow’s northern extremity, dating to c.1610. Having become ruinous, the house has been restored back to its early-17th century condition. The remaining Grade II Listed buildings are dominated by farms, barns and cottages of the 17th and 18th centuries, with the later structures including the Bobbin Public House (1790), Belfield Bridge (1794-1804), Clegg Hall Mill (early-19th century), St. James’s Church (1860s, plus an early-19th century sundial in the churchyard), neoGothic St. Thomas’s Church, Newhey (1870s), a Carnegie Library (1909-08) and the war memorial of c.1920 vintage.

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Above: A pair of Grade II Listed former weavers’ cottages in Milnrow, built using sandstone in a style typical of the local area.

Handloom weaving of woollens was the staple industry of Milnrow during the early-modern era (author – William Whittaker, source – Own work).

The last of the cotton mills, Butterworth Hall Mill, was demolished in the late-1990s and has been superseded by a housing estate.

Right: The parish church of St. James (author – Tim Green from Bradford, source – St. James, Milnrow).

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Milnrow tram stop. It’s easy enough to tell that this was once a railway station of 1863-2009 vintage before its conversion to a Metrolink tram stop (author – Dr. Neil Clifton / Milnrow, Lancashire: Metrolink stop / CC BY-SA 2.0, source – Milnrow, Lancashire Metrolink stop (geograph 3437427.jpg).

The five-storey Ellenroad Mill (built from 1890, demolished 1982) produced fine cotton yarn using the mule spinning technology until a fire in 1916, then re-building and conversion as a ring spinning mill. Although the mill itself was demolished, the Ellenroad Engine House is today a steam museum (the Ellenroad Steam Museum), which includes the largest surviving spinningmill steam engine.

Milnrow railway station, which had opened in 1863, and assisted with the town’s Victorian expansion, closed in 2009 for conversion to today’s Metrolink tramway stop (opened 2013). Newhey also has its own tram stop. This modern rapid transit system is a hark back to an earlier tramway (a ‘first-generation electric passenger tramway) which ran between Firgrove (west) and Milnrow between 1912 and ’32 and went right past the main street, 70

Dale Street, where all the shops and businesses were/are. The 1930s also saw the removal of a 23-ton WW1 Mk. IV tank that had been presented to the townsfolk because of their sterling fund-raising efforts during the Great War. The tank, presented in 1919, had apparently become a bit of an eyesore and was on its bike in 1934.

The 18th century caricaturist and satirical dialect poet John Collier, a.k.a. ‘Tim Bobbin’ (1708-86) lived in Milnrow and has a blue plaque on Milnrow Bridge commemorating his life and work (the school where he taught was close by). He styled himself as the ‘Lancashire Hogarth’ after William Hogarth, becoming Milnrow’s schoolmaster in 1742. Sadly, you won’t find the school building today, demolished in the 1950s to make way for bridge and road widening, but you will find his grave in Rochdale (St.

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Blue plaque commemorating Milnrow’s John Collier, on Milnrow Bridge (author – William Whittaker, source – Own work).

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Above: Clegg Hall at nearby Littleborough, which is Grade II* Listed (author – Tim Green from Bradford, source – Clegg Hall, Littleborough).

Chad’s). Local Rochdale-born poet and the so-called ‘Lancashire Burns’, Edwin Waugh (1817-90), who was no relation incidentally to famed father and son writers, Evelyn and Auberon, was a great admirer of Collier and therefore wrote extensively about Milnrow in his honour. He described it as spreading ‘itself out in an umbrageous way’.

I thought I knew a few words, but I have no idea what he meant by that.

Waugh also described Milnrow folk as ‘hardy’, which I do understand, and must have been pretty accurate, as they seem to have a good record for longevity hereabouts.

Having written about the Lancashire dialect before (Lancashire Magazine, September 2019) I was pleased to see it getting an airing again.

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Top right: Dale Street, Milnrow, which is the town’s main thoroughfare and therefore the location of its central business district.

The mill heritage is prominent in the background (author – David Dixon, source – www.geograph.org.uk).

Above: Milnrow with the M62 motorway in the foreground (author – ‘Andrewlee1967’, source – Own work).

Left: John Collier, self-portrait (artist – John Collier, source – Art UK, description – oil on canvas).

References Manchester Evening News (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk) Visit Rochdale (www.visitrochdale.com)

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Chocolate Heaven The theme for our latest short story was ‘greed’.

Sue Gerrard is our short story winner

We met at Chocoholics Anonymous on a hot July night in Blackpool. It was hard just walking to the headquarters at the back of the tower which seemed to disappear in the light, white clouds.

Everyone strolling on the Golden Mile seemed to be eating chocolate from a white chocolate bar to a black ice lolly. I was tempted to challenge the Milky Bar kid or mug a man for a Magnum such was my greed for chocolate. I resisted the temptation I was about to become a fellow fighter against the crumbly Flake, a colleague against the delicious Chocolate Buttons and a sister in arms against the addictive Aero.

I hadn’t wanted to go to the meeting in the Milky Bar because I loved, no adored, my chocolate, morning, noon and night. It was my only Ripple of delight in an otherwise uneventful life. I would do anything for chocolate, I was greedy for chocolate.

I was at that time a bus conductress on a Double Decker summer tourer to Fleetwood and whether I wanted to or not I was being forced to take Time Out from the world of men. In short, my love live was devoid of Heroes, romantic or otherwise.

As a result, I had become obsessed 72

with the wonderment of chocolate; everywhere I went it appeared before me. For instance, if on a balmy summer’s day I went on a lakeside Picnic with friends the hills would morph into a Toblerone; if I was in Stanley Park the sun would become a giant, brightly wrapped Chocolate Orange and the grass and earth would look like Green and Black’s Chocolate Bars.

It was on one of these Picnics I had one of those special Moments when I looked down at my ever- expanding waistline and I knew that I had to do something! It was then I decided to join the Blackpool branch of Chocoholics Anonymous to beat my greed.

It was just After Eight when I arrived at the bar on Quality Street and I eagerly scanned the room and then I saw him! I just knew he was the man for me as Magic Stars filled the room; I felt as if I was leaving this Galaxy and heading for Mars via the Milky Way. I was walking on air and felt as light as a Malteser.

Our eyes met, his were as black as Bourneville chocolate and I knew then that he had the heart of a Lion.

In turn I felt my heart pounding as he came towards me. I took a deep breath.

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I didn’t want to appear too eager and cause him to take Flyte; nor did I want this gorgeous man to think I was a stupid Fruit and Nut case.

‘Hello,’ he said in a luscious dark chocolate voice, I’m Peter and well it’s my first visit here. I guess it’s the same for you.’

‘Y y y es’ I stammered, ‘is it that obvious?’

‘I’m afraid so.’ he said smiling. I liked him even more now because the smile had gone straight to his eyes and I knew that he was genuine.

‘What’s your name?’ he asked.

‘Katherine but my friends call me Kit.’ ‘Kit as I’m hoping to be more than just a friend, I think I will call you by a special personal name to me. I will call you Kat if that’s o.k.?

I was thrilled at his interest and it was a great Boost to my confidence, so not wanting to miss this wonderful romantic opportunity, I said trying to be witty: ‘So, I’m Kit Kat then.’

He laughed and we moved towards the seats together. From that moment I was totally Snickered. He was everything I wanted in a man – kind, generous, gentle and considerate. It was going to be a summer of romance. I www.lancmag.com

now had two loves in my life, chocolate and Peter. It was going to be a yummy summer!

During dates at the seaside he told me he was a Yorkie born and bred but had left his home city of York and become a Drifter in love and life. However, he had refused to Rol over and waste his life; he had decided to start again. Now to my delight he wanted me to be part of his new world.

Of course, the main Topic of conversation was our love and we were determined that nothing would come be Twix us; while I was determined that this time, I wouldn’t Fudge this relationship.

He told me that he felt the same and I knew that we could fight all comers.

As he said to me: ‘Life is like chocolate, it isn’t always black and white, sometimes it’s different shades of milk.’

I agreed.

Our other great Topic was to lose weight and reluctantly, oh so reluctantly, we decided to give up our beloved chocolate. This we did taking comfort in our mutual courage and companionship and I tried to banish my greed for this God-like substance.

We were approaching our first anniversary and I was still deeply in www.lancmag.com

love with Peter but desperately needed that delicious brown (or white or black) chocolate. I could feel myself weakening, the greed coming back in sugary waves; not even the glorious sunny days and dusky hot nights of Blackpool could drag me from my selfinflicted chocolate melancholy.

Then, on a beautiful July day I was dragged out of my chocolate depression when Peter said that to enhance our first year Celebrations he had booked a long weekend in Lytham It promised to be a holiday full of Turkish Delight.

Then just before we left I did it, I bought a Toffee Crisp. I couldn’t help it, I was fed up with Crunchie, boring lettuce. I wanted a Bounty, M & M’s, a Chocolate Cream Bar – it didn’t matter - for me any chocolate was Beau.

I carefully hid the Toffee Crisp in our hotel room sure that Peter wouldn’t find it, he was not as greedy as me.

I would eat it discreetly; I couldn’t bear it if he knew I had succumbed to such Temptations.

Peter had planned such a special romantic evening (which made me feel even more guilty). He greeted me with a bouquet of Roses saying; ‘Let the Revels

and Celebrations begin.’ And with that he whisked me away to the scintillating Star Bar. We were greeted with a Flute of champagne each and the Minstrels were playing ‘You Sexy Thing’ by Hot Chocolate. We had a fantastic meal and a Twirl on the dance floor. It was the perfect evening.

However, when I awoke the following morning my craving for my Toffee Crisp was unbearable. I decided there and then, while Peter was sleeping, to do it, to go and eat it, to get the deed done and dusted.

I opened my top drawer gingerly, trembling with anticipation and the thought of the delights to come. Then total horror, it was gone; my wonderful Toffee Crisp was gone!

Then there was a knock on the door and I was still shaking when I opened it to find the maid standing there. It was from her that I heard the Wispa.

Peter had been greedy and eaten my Toffee Crisp and I knew then we were finished. There was only room for one greedy person in this relationship and he was just too Flakey!

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Landmarc and UK Connect help troops stay connected

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alton Camp is located on the MOD’s Defence Training Estate in Lancashire and is currently hosting reservist troops as they prepare to deploy on operations in support of the military’s COVID Support Force. Due to the camp’s remote and rural location, the required infrastructure to support effective digital connectivity is limited, presenting challenges for troops looking to access basic internet services to stay in touch with friends and family at home.

Landmarc, which manages the UK Defence Training Estate in partnership with DIO approached UK Connect, a leading supplier of temporary communication solutions, to see if the team could assist. Two days later, the camp was fully operational with reliable, unrestricted broadband and Wi-Fi access for every reservist on site.

Mark Neill, Managing Director at Landmarc said, “We were approached by DIO to prepare Halton Camp in readiness for the arrival of troops embarking on essential training in the fight against COVID-19. As well as ensuring all basic facilities, such as the sleeping and eating quarters, were prepared in time, we wanted to ensure that the regiment would also be able to enjoy the comfort and support provided by effective internet services while away from home.

“Landmarc has supported UK Connect since the business began as an X-Forces Enterprise start-up in 2013. The military background of founder PJ Farr, their commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant

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and ability to deliver rapid mobile communication infrastructure made it the perfect choice to help us deploy an effective solution to improve the welfare of our Armed Forces using the camp to train.”

PJ Farr, Managing Director at UK Connect, said, “We typically deliver our connectivity services to temporary construction sites, where rapid set-up of broadband and Wi-Fi services are often required. This experience, coupled with our military roots, meant that we could appreciate the unique challenges of the training environment and the needs of the troops that would be stationed on site.

“Our remit was that Wi-Fi and broadband must be made available for all users in every room, that it must be unrestricted and easy to use and that it had to be delivered in a timescale of just two days.

“In normal circumstances, we would conduct an initial site survey to ascertain the precise site demands, usually working to a ten-day window. However, due to the tight turnaround required, we were able to install the entire communications’ provision in just 12 hours across the whole camp.

All of the occupied accommodation units and welfare facilities, as well as outdoor areas and the recreation ground, are now connected to support the broader spread of troops who are following strict social distancing rules on camp.

“It’s very simple to connect. Users can access the network by using their smart phone to scan a QR code, which is displayed on posters

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Landmarc Support Services (Landmarc) and UK Connect have worked in partnership to enable vital broadband provision at the Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s (DIO) Halton Training Camp, a key asset in the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Covid-19 strategic response. around the different locations. We are also providing a 24/7 support line to ensure that troops can always stay connected around their training regime.”

One user commented, “I use Wi-Fi constantly, up to this point, I’ve had no loss of connection, whilst using multiple devices. Having such a reliable service has massively boosted the morale of soldiers on site as it has made communications with friends and family so much easier. I now feel very confident I can chat with my family 24hrs a day, which is hugely reassuring as I don’t know how long my absence from home will continue.”

Colonel Phil Cook, Deputy Head of UK Training for DIO, concluded, “Wi-Fi is a key requirement and the lack of it can impact on the morale of troops - even more so during this difficult time of COVID-19. This initiative by Landmarc and UK Connect delivered an excellent solution at short notice in support of military personnel on the COVID Support Force, enabling them to keep in touch with family and friends when off duty.”

For more information, please visit www.landmarcsolutions.com. www.lancmag.com

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Lakeland Book of the Year 2020 Celebrating and supporting local authors

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or the first time, the Lakeland Book of the Year will be celebrating the fantastic array of writing inspired by Cumbria and the Lake District virtually, as organisers vow not to let Coronavirus halt the 36-year-old event.

68 books, all published in 2019, have been whittled down to a 24-strong longlist by judges Hunter Davies OBE, Cumbria Tourism President Eric Robson and broadcaster Fiona Armstrong. These three judges now have the unenviable task of selecting the shortlist, six category winners and overall Lakeland Book of the Year 2020 before the official announcement is made on 30 June.

Open to any book published in 2019 set in or featuring Cumbria in some way, this year’s entrants have once again highlighted the huge range of inspiration the region generates for both new and well-established authors.

“Every year I’m completely blown away by the staggering number of high-quality novels, histories, guides and poems entered” says Cumbria Tourism MD Gill Haigh, which supports and administers the annual competition.

“2020 is an extra-special year for celebrating the Lakes’ literary heritage – originally the awards ceremony in June would have been a key part of Wordsworth 250 – a quarter of a millennium since the birth of Lakeland’s most noted

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writer. Unfortunately Coronavirus has meant that we can’t celebrate in the usual way but I’m very proud they are continuing in these difficult times. We know many people have planned breaks to Cumbria which have now been postponed or cancelled and we can’t wait to welcome tourists back as soon as it is safe to travel again. In the meantime, if anybody is looking for a good book to transport them to our county there’s a fantastic to selection from which to choose!”

Awards founder and judge Hunter Davies added “I am so pleased the annual Lakeland Book of the Year Awards is still going ahead, despite these trying times. After all, we have managed for 36 years so far and we all hope it will go on forever - the only regional book prize in the whole of the UK. It would have been so bitterly disappointing for those 68 authors who have submitted their books this year if the judging had not gone ahead. For many of them, this is the first book they have ever written, working on it for many years, the culmination of years of study and passion and knowledge of a particular aspect of Cumbrian life, past or present.

“It is a shame that our grand lunch won’t take place this summer, the literary highlight of Lakeland life, but the www.lancmag.com

Lakeland Book of the Year 2020 Longlist • Black Summer by M.W. Craven • Bob’s Jottings by Bob Jopling • The Cumberland Bard: Robert Anderson

by Sue Allan • Cumbria at War by Ruth Mansergh • Embellish with Relish by Maria Whitehead • Grasmere: A History in 55½ Buildings by Grasmere History Group • Hows and Knotts: A Guide to Lakeland Views by Guy Richardson • I Hate the Lake District by Charlie Gere • Knockupworth - The Story of a Family by John Bainbridge • Lake District Bouldering by Greg Chapman • The Lake District in 101 Maps & Infographics by David Felton • The Lake District Survival Guide by Ian Young • The Magpie’s Nest by Taffy Thomas

judging will go on and their hard work will be recognised.

I don’t know about my fellow judges, Fiona and Eric, but thanks to self-isolating, I find so far I am reading the books even more attentively than usual, spinning out the pleasure.

They are my treats, my pudding, for the long days, with so little else happening. I am lucky to have them.

And so is Cumbria… “ The awards, one of the most prestigious of their kind outside London, are kindly supported by the Cumbria Community Foundation Hunter Davies Fund, Striding Edge, the Bill Rollinson Award Association and Latitude Press Ltd. All sponsors are committed to recognising and supporting writing inspired by Cumbria’s landscape, heritage and people. Following shortlisting, the six category winners and overall 2020 Lakeland Book of the Year winner will be announced at www.lakelandbookoftheyear.co.uk on 30 June, with the news shared by @lakesbookawards on Twitter and Cumbria Tourism’s Facebook page.

2020 also marks a brand-new children’s poetry prize in celebration of William Wordsworth, judged by Michael McGregor, Director at The Wordsworth Trust and Ian Walker, Deputy Head at John Ruskin School. www.lancmag.com

• Mountain Man: 446 mountains. Six months. One record-breaking adventure

by James Forrest • My Dad’s Army: The White Gurkhas

by Ian Wilson • Out of the Deep by Ruth Sutton • A Pennington Pepys (Extracts from The Commonplace & Diaries of William Fleming) by John Graeme Livingstone) • A Peopled Landscape by Stephen Matthews • Rose by Sally Dalglish • Secrets of the Flock by J.B. Browne • Slightly Perfect by John Cunliffe • Two Days in May by David Clemson • The Understanding by Roger Dobson • Who Was Ann Gregg?

By David Cooper-Holmes LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 77

The RICS North West Social Impact Awards 2020 Reported by Andrew Harris

The Windmill Green project

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very year the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors select the very best construction projects which transform the everyday lives of people. This year twentynine north west projects were considered and winners in seven categories – and the overall Project of the Year - have been announced. In September they will all compete with winners from other regions for the national RICS awards.

The first award category is for any commercial development projects whether retail, office, industrial or mixed use. The winner is the Windmill Green project in Manchester. This design, build and operate project is by the FORE Partnership was judged to combine a sensitive architectural approach with ultra-low carbon features and an innovative social impact. The judges said that Windmill Green is a thoughtful and innovative reconstruction which engages with charities and tenants to provide first-class accommodation whilst meeting the needs of the community. It is the first multi-let office in Manchester to be awarded ‘Outstanding’ status by BREEAM – the Building Research Establishment Environment Assessment Method created in 1990. A major achievement by the FORE Partnership, architect tp Bennett and surveyor Walker Sime.

Category 2 is for education projects and the winner is the Alliance Manchester Business School in Manchester. Known as AMBS it is, with about 2,000 students and more than 200 staff, the largest campus-based business and management 78

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school in the UK. The project has transformed the existing Business School with significant new building additions, new retail space, new executive education facilities, new public space and a new hotel delivered in partnership with Manchester office-supplier Bruntwood. The judges said it has transformed the gateway to the surrounding built environment. It provides functional space plus benefits for students, staff and the community. The developer is MACE, the architect is BDP and the surveyor is Walker Sime again.

The third category is for healthcare projects. The winner is the ‘Institute in the Park’ for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. This provides a flexible facility which supports interdisciplinary working and enables Alder Hey to engage with partners and others beyond the hospital. It is built on the site of the old Alder Hey hospital – the stunning new hospital was the overall winner in the 2017 RICS regional awards – and relates well to the parkland setting while enhancing the environment by the use of natural materials, good natural daylight and excellent temperature control. www.lancmag.com

Top: The Alliance Manchester Business School

Above: The ‘Institute in the Park’ for Alder Hey Hospital www.lancmag.com

The judges said that the ‘Institute in the Park’ enhances the wellbeing of those working there and sends a positive message to researchers. Local community groups can use the facilities and the parkland has been freed up for use by the public. The client was the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust which was assisted by the contractor Morgan Sindall, Hopkins Architects and the surveyor AECOM Ltd. LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 79

Category 4 is for heritage projects which can involve the conservation, renovation or restoration of one or more buildings. The winner is the St Bernard’s Church project in Liverpool which has been converted to provide 11 affordable homes. It is an example of how a landmark but redundant building can provide housing which is both exciting and low-cost.

The ‘Home Partners’ each contributed ‘sweat equity’ of 500 hours labour to accrue a deposit for purchase. The new houses are part of a growing community on land donated by the Archdiocese of Liverpool. The judges said that the project successfully retained glimpses of the church’s architectural features – such as an arch or the glory of a stained glass window.

The new owners have worked hard for their homes and created a ready-made community of friends and neighbours who are proud of their achievements. The project was developed in the name of the Hampton People Building Communities assisted by Ainsley Gommon Architects and the Wilkinson Cowan Partnership was the surveyor.

St Bernard’s Church in Liverpool

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Category 5 is for leisure projects which can include tourist attractions, hotels, community centres and sporting facilities. The winner is a most unusual project – the Oasis Centre and Sandpiper Place in Gorton, Manchester. The Oasis Centre Charity provides support for vulnerable residents in Gorton – one of the most socially deprived areas of the city. The new centre opened in March this year and is already a meeting place for disadvantaged local people and a base for a mainly voluntary team undertaking outstanding work in the community. It plays a central part of everyone’s life and is the result of 4 years of unpaid advice and work by surveyor Roger Hannah. Roger purchased a derelict bank and adjoining land from Manchester City Council for just £2.

He then arranged for 26 houses to be developed on part of the site with the price of the land funding 50% of the cost of the new Oasis Centre. The judges recognised that the new www.lancmag.com

The Oasis Centre and Sandpiper Place in Gorton

centre was achieved by the charity working ‘hand in hand’ with Roger Hannah. The charity was also helped by Grays Architect.

An interior view of the Westhead Avenue Project in Kirkby

The penultimate category - number 6 – is for residential projects. The winner is the development of 170 one- and two-bedroom apartments and a state-of-the-art care facility at Westhead Avenue in Kirkby, Knowsley. The project is transforming a disused brownfield (urban) site into a much-needed development in the heart of one of the most socially deprived areas of Merseyside. The care centre will provide support around the clock to meet the individual needs of residents. It is a flagship project for Liverpool Mutual Homes and Knowsley Council. The architect is the Paddock Johnson Partnership and the Lane End Group is the surveyor and contractor. www.lancmag.com

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The seventh and last category is for student accommodation which enhances the student experience and supports wellbeing. The winner is Horizon Heights in Liverpool which provides more than 1,000 units of student accommodation and creates a splendid impression with visitors to the city partly due to the striking grey/blue brickwork, large glazed areas, perforated fins, glass curtain walling and safe aluminium cladding. The project’s ‘public realm’ unifies the accommodation and the surrounding area to provide a functional, attractive, engaging and secure environment for students. The judges said that the building has been designed for and by its end users. Safeguarding students is at the heart of the design which also promotes social inclusion. The benefits provided by the project have helped to bring about a reduction of antisocial behaviour in the order of 15%. The development team was the client Unit Students, contractor McAleer & Rushe, architect Falconer Chester Hall and surveyor Tower Eight.

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Horizon Heights in Liverpool

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. . . . . and finally. The overall regional winner – the Project of the Year – is the Oasis Centre and Sandpiper Place. The judges recognised that the leisure category winner is an outstanding example of professionals working in both the built and natural environments. The awards are based on social impact and it is hard to imagine a more appropriate winner than a building that will provide a massive improvement to the social welfare of the local community.

The Oasis Centre and Sandpiper Place in Gorton

Andrew E. Harris gratefully acknowledges the help and images provided by the RICS in the preparation of this article. He is a chartered surveyor but not part of the judging process. Copies of previous RICS regional awards can be seen at www.andreweharris.co.uk under Published Articles/ Environmental Topics.

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Birds turning up the dawn chorus volume Are the birds singing louder this spring? It’s a question sprung on conservationists quite a lot this year.

Curlew in flight over moor by Darin Smith

“

Well if you listen to the sound of the dawn chorus this week, wildlife doesn’t seem to be missing us at all,” said Alan Wright, Campaigns Manager at the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside.

“There are two factors involved here, we believe. The lack of noise pollution from fewer vehicles being on the road is definitely opening up gaps for our wild birds to really let rip this year, as they are looking for love on their patch. And people have time to notice wild sights and sounds. Blackbirds, robins, great tis and wrens seem extra loud.”

Conservationists are not underestimating the tragic human cost of the Coronavirus but are stressing that lessons could well be learned from the emergency measures we’re are mostly following. And with the Coronavirus forcing many of us to stay at home, how is wildlife coping?

Alan said: “I really hope we are learning from this crisis.

Many lives have been lost as the virus has spread but I am sure the health measures have helped to save many thousands of people.

“And we shouldn’t be afraid to mention this knock-on effect on that is benefiting our wildlife. Let’s hope we can look at this and improve the way we live in the future in a way that supports nature.

“The songs of thrush and robin are filling the early mornings with sound. In some cases, it might just be that we are noticing the birdsong more as the noise from vehicles and general hubbub has turned down its volume.

“I certainly think that many people go through their lives without noticing some of the wonderful noises and the creatures making those noises around them.”

Many wildlife experts also believe that the lessening in pollution, globally, is also affecting animal behaviour. Alan said: “Our swallows and swifts are now flying back into urban areas which have always had problems with fumes from cars and industry. They are breathing fresher air into their little

lungs, which can only be good for them.”

It will also mean that litter is reduced in our towns and in the countryside. Again experts are saying that litter in our rivers and lakes will be less, because there is nobody there to dump it. And even the seas will benefit from a short period away from human waste. Will it make a difference to how we live our lives in the future?

Alan said: “I was walking along a river bank the other day and I thought, cleaner rivers and streams will be much better for our iconic kingfishers, one of our most colourful birds.

They will be feeding in cleaner water at the moment.

“And for the third day running I watched and listened to noisy curlew flying over my garden. These are the sights and sounds we should all be seeing every day.”

The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is part of the Wildlife Trusts, the UK’s biggest conservation charity. In the North West the Wildlife Trust has more than 30,000 members who support its work in creating Nature Recovery Networks both here and across the United Kingdom.

Kingfishers perching on a branch by Peter Hunter (Medium)

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is dedicated to the protection and promotion of the wildlife in Lancashire, seven boroughs of Greater Manchester and four of Merseyside, all lying north of the River Mersey. It manages around 40 nature reserves and 20 Local Nature Reserves covering acres of woodland, wetland, upland and meadow. The Trust has 27,000 members, and over 1,200 volunteers.

To become a member of the Trust go to the website at www.lancswt.org.uk or call 01772 324129. For more information about Cheshire Wildlife Trust call 01948 820728 or go to cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk.

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New homes across Lancashire How very Redrow We pride ourselves in building quality homes throughout Lancashire

Images typical of Redrow homes. Details correct at time of going to press.

Discover more about the new homes in Lancashire

Visit: redrow.co.uk/lancashire

Redrow strive to create environments that will stand the test of time, where people can appreciate and enjoy their surroundings. We create homes that are designed for the way we live today, yet are rooted in the time-honoured traditions of craftsmanship and care.

Hospice draws help from homebuilder The Marie Curie Hospice, Liverpool, has received a donation from Redrow’s Allerton Community Fund to help make cosmetic improvements to its patient and visitor areas.

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he hospice, on Speke Road in Woolton, cares for around 1,200 patients and their families each year providing social, practical, emotional and spiritual support. It costs £5.2 million to run annually.

Marie Curie Community Fundraiser for Liverpool Antony Jones approached Redrow for help with giving one of the most versatile areas of the hospice a fresh new look.

Antony explained: The hospice conservatory is a hive of activity hosting day therapy lunches, ROOTS day therapy sessions, events for families and is also used as a meeting space. It was looking weathered and worn and we wanted to give it a refresh to make the space

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more welcoming for our patients and families.

Many of the blinds were broken and no longer fit for use. With Redrow’s help we’ve been able to order made to measure blinds helping make people feel welcome whether they’re staying in the hospice or just here for the day either as an outpatient or visitor.

The hospice received almost £1,400 from Redrow’s £10,000 Allerton Community Fund. The voluntary fund has been shared between local groups and good causes. It is in addition to Redrow’s statutory obligations linked to the 100-home Allerton Gardens development, off Woolton Road, in Allerton, just a few miles from the hospice.

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Redrow’s Yvonne Gaskill helps Anita Johnson and Joan Jones measure up for new blinds for The Marie Curie Hospice, Liverpool Elaine Mounsey, area sales manager for Redrow Homes (NW), said: “Marie Curie Hospice, Liverpool, is a fantastic charity providing much needed support to people with terminal illnesses and their families. Helping with cosmetic improvements is our way of thanking the hospice for all that they do for the community.”

Homes at Allerton Gardens are currently available ‘off plan’ with show homes due to open next month. For the latest availability and pricing, call 0151 391 3737 or visit www.redrow.co.uk/allerton. www.lancmag.com

Home is where the ‘hart’ is MANY a fond memory are tied to where we live and homes at Hartford Grange in Cheshire are ready and waiting to be part of family life.

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he award-winning development from homebuilder Redrow offers sumptuous living, with four and fivebedroom properties currently available from £545,995.

With luxury living comes practicality too, with features like en-suites, utility rooms and garages making them ideal for families seeking that little bit extra.

Situated in leafy Hartford, a village filled with charm and where community is key, Hartford Grange is a great place to live and raise a family.

“Hartford is close and inclusive and offers its residents a comfortable way of life, making it perfect for those looking for a secure and stable environment for themselves and their children,” says Caroline Thompson-Jones, area sales manager for Redrow Homes (NW). “ “Hartford Grange is also within walking distance of restaurants, lovely local shops and good schools – so it’s perfect for those who are looking to get the balance of life just right.”

Caroline continues: “I think a lot of people think Hartford Grange and our superb Heritage Collection homes might be out of their price range, but with five-bedroom houses in places like South Manchester costing anywhere between £600,000 and close to £1m, we can certainly compete and offer more than buyers might expect for a competitive price.”

The Richmond is a four-bedroom detached house that is full of style and sophistication. Set over 2030sq ft and priced from £584,995, it offers a fantastic quality of life that meets the highest standards.

The expansive kitchen, dining room and family room overlooking the back garden is a particularly impressive space. The separate, spacious lounge and a handy cloakroom and utility, along with an integral garage make up the rest of the downstairs. Upstairs, the master bedroom has a walk-in wardrobe and en-suite bathroom, bedroom two also benefits from an en-suite and two further bedrooms share a family bathroom. www.lancmag.com

The five-bedroom Marlborough, priced from £545,995, is a similarly luxurious property, boasting a beautiful kitchen and dining area, as well as a separate lounge and snug, which can lend itself to becoming a formal dining room or play room.

Upstairs the master bedroom and bedroom two both enjoy an en-suite, with three further bedrooms sharing the family bathroom. The number of bedrooms also lends itself to versatility: the fifth, for example, could be used as a guest room or study or, if desired, easily transformed into a home gym.

Redrow has a host of incentives to help would-be buyers purchase a home at Hartford Grange, in particular one which gives assistance for those with an existing property to sell.

Through Help to Sell Redrow and its estate agent partners will do a lot of the work to market and sell a client’s old property. They will arrange its appraisal by the estate agent partner and agree a fair valuation and marketing plan to encourage a quick sale. Redrow will even contribute to fees.

For more information about Hartford Grange – winner of five stars for the Best Residential Development in Cheshire at the UK Property Awards - and all the homes available, visit the show homes and sales suite, usually open daily from 10am to 5.30pm. Alternatively call the sales consultants on 01606 369806 or go to www.redrow.co.uk/hartfordgrange LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 91

Homeowners sell up and buy new – all without leaving the house!

BUYING and selling a property during lockdown may have been a little trickier than normal but it was far from impossible as Redrow customers Megan Jones and Phillip McGrath proved.

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he pair are trading up to a brand new four-bedroom detached family home at Saddleworth View, in Oldham, and not only bought their new Redrow home online, but sold their three-bedroom semi in nearby Royton over the internet too.

Megan, 25, who works in premium banking in Manchester city centre, takes up the story: “We’d been looking at a couple of Redrow developments locally just prior to lockdown and were in the process of trying to decide where we wanted to live and what we could afford.

“Then Phillip developed a temperature; and two weeks in self-isolation with our little boy Harley, who’s two, convinced us that we definitely needed a bigger space!

The four-bedroom detached Marlow became available at Saddleworth View and we put our existing property on the market with online estate agent YOPA. “Because of the Coronavirus everything was done virtually, including the valuation and viewings. I took all the photographs and filmed a video tour of the house even doing things like opening and closing cupboard doors to show that they had soft closers. It must have worked because we had about 15 virtual viewings in the first week and two rival offers.”

Megan and Phillip, 28, a hub development officer, very quickly found themselves sold subject to contract to first time buyers, which allowed them to complete the reservation of their brand new Redrow home using Help to Buy – all done online.

“It was all so easy,” says Megan. “Gavin, the area sales manager, talked us through the reservation process over the phone and then we were able to do it from home at our own pace using ‘My Redrow’. It was all laid out very simply and easy to follow, even the terms and conditions which we read through carefully and found very easy to understand before signing up digitally. We also used My Redrow to order extras for our new home, such as carpets and flooring throughout, which was really easy to navigate.”

The couple’s mortgage application was completed over the internet too and they are now looking forward to moving into their new Redrow home later this year.

“Everyone we have been dealing with such as Redrow, 92

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Megan and Phillip with Harley inside their current home

solicitors and banks are very much on top of the situation and have been very accommodating,” Megan adds.

The couple bought their three-bedroom semi in Royton about four years ago and it was their first home together.

“We did everything to it, stripping it right back to the bare walls,” Megan explains. “This time I just wanted something that was ready to move into and the Marlow with its beautifully fitted kitchen and bathrooms is perfect.”

Indeed, with its four double bedrooms, en-suite, utility room and garage, the Marlow is a great family home. It has a spacious open plan kitchen and dining room overlooking the garden and a separate lounge.

It’s one from a range of three and four-bedroom detached www.lancmag.com

Redrow’s Marlow house style similar to the one Megan and Phillip have reserved at Saddleworth View

homes at Saddleworth View, off Counthill Road; two miles from Oldham town centre, 10 miles from Manchester and on the edge of Saddleworth Moors.

“We love the location. It’s close to open countryside and has some great views – it will be like living in Saddleworth itself but without the prices!” Megan adds.

Redrow Homes (Lancashire) sales director Sian Pitt comments: “We couldn’t have predicted that the ability to look around properties and reserve homes virtually would be so important, but our industry leading investment in technology meant that we were well placed to support customers who still wanted to progress with their move during lockdown. www.lancmag.com

“Although physically viewing a show home or development wasn’t possible in this period, My Redrow has allowed customers to view different developments online, select their chosen plot, review the optional upgrades available and add these to their ‘virtual’ shopping basket.

They could even complete on the reservation of a home as Megan and Phillip have done. We’re delighted for them and can’t wait to welcome the family to Saddleworth View in person.”

Current prices at the popular Redrow development are from £305,995 for the four-bedroom detached Stratford. For more information call 0161 825 7277 or go to www.redrow.co.uk/saddleworthview LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 93

Adam Partridge Auctioneers In these troubled times, when health issues are in the forefront of our minds, it is interesting to consider some of the medical items that we sell in our scientific sections.

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s scientific thought developed and amateur interest in science increased in the early nineteenth century, microscopes became more advanced with the improvement in lenses. This created a demand for microscopic slides. Early slides were made of ivory or bone with a central space containing the specimen, held by discs of transparent mica. As production became more professional, glass and finally plastic came into use. Makers in the 1800s decorated their slides with lithographed paper which was originally used to hold the slide together. These made the slides distinctive and, for some makers, created a good business. Others were by unknown makers and retailed by companies, some of whom still exist today. Some slides were put together by amateurs. The most desirable slide lots are housed in purpose made boxes or cabinets.

At a time when basic drugs were not readily available and doctors were expensive, medication would be administered within the household for the family and the servants. Such medication would be housed in domestic apothecary cabinets, which

Victorian domestic apothecary cabinet and contents 94

Six 17th/18th century decorated ceramic drug jars

are chemist shops in miniature. The beautifully made boxes have hinged and often folding doors which house the bottles of drugs and jars of ointment in fitted compartments. Drawers often contain a pestle and mortar and small hanging scales with weights to measure and mix drug preparations.

These Victorian cabinets are very desirable especially if the contents are original. Depending on the design and size of the cabinet, any bottles containing poison were kept behind hidden panels or in separate drawers.

These bottles were usually made of distinctive blue or green glass, often ribbed for the easy identification.

Buyers should be aware that even if the bottles are very old, they should not be opened as their contents could still be highly toxic.

We have also sold several large vibrantly coloured glass apothecary bottles, often used to decorate chemist’s windows. But the most valuable drug containers are the seventeenth and eighteenth century ceramic jars. These jars are marked with the shortened Latin name of the drug, surrounded with decoration in the form of flora and fauna, scrolls, cherubs and saints.

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Early 20th century cabinet containing vintage microscope slides

They are generally blue and white but may be more colourful with maiolica decoration. The dry drug jars have an aperture at the top and the wet drug versions have spouts and handles for pouring. Such jars can command very high prices, achieving hundreds or even thousands of pounds at auction.

Many of the medical implements and equipment of the past seem barbaric or primitive to modern eyes. But often it is the mystery and goriness that creates interest. We have sold such things as fleams for blood letting, dental and optical tools, leech jars and even glass eyes and gold teeth. Today, however, we recognise the value of medical hygiene and pain control and we appreciate the NHS with accessible effective health care for all.

Adam Partridge Auctioneers is fortunate to have one of the country’s leading studio pottery and 20th century ceramics specialist who regularly attends our Macclesfield auction room and our Preston valuation office.

Please call for more information 01772 347 380. www.lancmag.com

Towneley Hall Half.qxp_Layout 1 20/11/2019 09:52 Page 1

Towneley Hall HISTORIC HOUSE, ART GALLERY & MUSEUM

Set in 400 acres of beautiful parkland Towneley offers a great day out for all ages.

Enjoy walking in woodland and meadows, explore the hall and its treasures of fine art and relax in the café or let off steam in the play area For full details please ring 01282 477130-Ex 3181 Towneley Park, Burnley, Lancashire, BB11 3RQ www.towneleyhall.org.uk

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The biggest online singing competition for young talent The TeenStar competition is the biggest search for teenage and pre-teen singers attracting over 9,000 entries each year in the UK, with prizes and opportunities for young artists looking to develop their talent. And it’s now going online and international!

TeenStar 2020 is going online and international!

TeenStar auditions are now being held online so anyone from around the world has the chance to audition and perform in front of thousands. The competition is exclusively for 19-year-olds and younger. Age categories are split to include pre-teens 12 and under and late teens 13-19 years old.

Auditions and shows will be streamed live across the TeenStar social media, including Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, plus partner platforms. Auditions will give contestants the chance to showcase their talent in front of industry judges.

Audition dates now released!

Applications to enter this year’s competition are now open, with auditions beginning in June. Places are limited so make sure you enter now for your chance to win!

Win a place in the grand final!

If you make it through the auditions, you’ll gain a place in the live shows, with the chance to compete at the spectacular Grand Final and win the prize of £5,000!

Last year’s TeenStar winner was Teah who was crowned champion at The O2 in London.

TeenStar previous winners

TeenStar Champions Luke Friend 2013 96

TeenStar Winner Acacia 2018

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TeenStar Champions Teah 2019 www.lancmag.com

TeenStar is now open for applications, so if you’re a pre-teen or teen singer and think you’ve got what it takes, for more information and to enter go to: www.teenstarcompetition.co.uk

The TeenStar singing competition is brought to you by Future Music, the company behind the discovery of artists such as Warner Music’s Birdy, Columbia Record’s Lucy Spraggan, Union J’s Jaymi Hensley as well as Courtney Hadwin finalist of America’s Got Talent. Plus, the winner of ITV’s The Voice, Molly Hocking and BBC’s All Together Now winner and UK’s Eurovision representative Michael Rice. www.lancmag.com

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New wetland created for the birds A former giant colliery has been transformed into a huge wetland area for wildlife and people

Fir Tree Flash in Bickershaw

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he Lancashire Wildlife Trust has been creating the 41 hectares of wetland on the site of the former Bickershaw Colliery.

The project is part of the Environment Agency funded Slow the Flow campaign, which creates natural flood management.

Slow the Flow looks at innovative ways to use land for water storage during times of heavy rainfall.

At Bickershaw, the Wildlife Trust has produced large areas of wetland habitat which can hold more than 200 million additional litres of water, creating areas for wildlife and protecting 30 homes at high risk of flooding.

Drainage ditches have been turned into meandering streams, with pools and dams and flood plains have been created. New great-crested newt ponds have been dug under guidance by Natural England.

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Wetlands created at Bickershaw

Wigan Projects Manager Dr Mark Champion said: “Alongside this, we are creating flower grasslands on postindustrial sites and monitoring these for pollinators and prioritising work to ensure connectivity across our landscape.

These ecosystem services are helping to provide sustainable flood mitigation, habitat mitigation for protected species, and accessible greenspaces benefiting health and wellbeing of residents in the Wigan Borough.”

Some 14 ponds have been created by the partnership of Lancashire Wildlife Trust and Wigan Council, these are planned to increase the areas of suitable wetland habitat for newts and other wildlife.

Bickershaw Project officer Hamish Jeffreson said: “We have already seen increases in wildlife with skylarks throughout the grasslands and lapwings in the cattle fields. On the back of Fir Tree Flash I have seen a tree creepers.”

The pit opened in the 1830s and was one of the biggest on the Lancashire coalfields, employing thousands of people above and below ground, before it closed in 1992.

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust is continuing to monitor its sites during the lockdown to ensure wildlife is thriving and will continue to life our spirits.

Bickershaw Country Park

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is dedicated to the protection and promotion of the wildlife in Lancashire, seven boroughs of Greater Manchester and four of Merseyside, all lying north of the River Mersey. It manages around 40 nature reserves and 20 Local Nature Reserves covering acres of woodland, wetland, upland and meadow. The Trust has 27,000 members, and over 1,200 volunteers.

To become a member of the Trust go to the website at www.lancswt.org.uk or call 01772 324129. For more information about Cheshire Wildlife Trust call 01948 820728 or go to cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk.

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Thinking about memories How much do you use your brain?

NOT

long ago, someone said to me, “Don’t you think people are getting more forgetful? How do you keep your mind so active at your age?” I am not going to tell you how old I am but I do remember the war. World War Two that is. Not one of the more recent ones; there is always a war going on somewhere.

I have never thought much about matters concerning the brain but I suppose the old adage “What you don’t use you lose” applies.

Most of us are using our brain all of the time but are we using them enough? Even just thinking “Shall I go to the shop before or after lunch?” is a usage. Chatting with neighbours certainly is.

I am aware that many things task the brain but I believe that there is no doubt that, in the past, people used their brain more than most of us do now.

My mother and grandmother used them whilst out shopping. They totted up their spends as they went along. They did not trust the person behind the counter to get things right. Now their successors do not do any sums; they never question the correctness of the bar charts and the till’s computer. Although some shoppers do check the print-out they are given many of these are just scraps of paper that are discarded in the shopping trolley.

shows do but many others switch the brain off.

Of course, there are two beneficial puzzles that appear in print that are quiz-like in their nature. These are the good old crossword and Sudoku.

I have obviously used my brain whilst writing this piece. But the writing of such is only part of the story. I tend to be switched on to thoughts regarding articles when I am out and about. “That would make a good story” is a thought I often have. I could be looking at a building, or a river or perhaps even an event.

The opposite of writing, namely reading, is obviously also good for the brain. Even reading such as these scribbles of mine must be of some benefit.

So, in conclusion are we getting more memory losses in later life because people are not using their brains enough? Probably.

I am well aware that both the question and my answer will probably get some specialists jumping. Will we see any responses in writing I wonder

People use their brains when socialising in pubs. It is not so long ago that darts and dominos were played in my local every night. And both of those involve mental mathematics. Now there are less of those activities since pubs are - or were - closing at an incredible rate.

The closure rate has fallen of late, chiefly because there are fewer pubs around.

Almost everyone now spends a fair amount of time watching television and few programmes put the brain to work. Some quiz

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Formby

Words: Stephen Roberts

‘Off to Formby for footie. Ground had moved in 2002 unbeknown to me! ‘Skem’ won a good match 4-1’.

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Formby FC – Official matchday magazine of Formby FC, ‘The Squirrel Review’, Tuesday 27th November 2007, Formby FC v. Skelmersdale United in the Liverpool Senior Cup (author).

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his was a pithy entry in ‘The Secret Diary of Stephen Roberts’ (2007 vintage) which records that I visited Formby on the evening of Tuesday 27th November 2007 for a football match between local team Formby FC (‘The Squirrels’) and Skelmersdale United FC. As sometimes happens with my mad-cap ventures, things didn’t go quite as planned, as I discovered on arrival at Formby’s former ground that they had moved five years before. I had to seek directions then utilise a bit more shoe leather. All ended well though, as I saw an entertaining match (at the new ground obviously), although matters didn’t end well for the home side, who lost 1-4. I doubted if I’d be invited back as a lucky mascot, but then fate intervened to deny me this potential pleasure in any case (read on).

Let’s clear up a bit of Formby FC history, as I do like my footie. It’s one of my weaknesses along with Mrs Steve and History. The club was formed in 1919, just after the end of WW1, played at its old Brows Lane ground from 1920 (the site of which I’d erroneously rocked up at) and had been happily ensconced at its new Altcar Road ground since the summer of 2002, a purpose-built stadium close to the Formby by-pass. www.lancmag.com

A Formby red squirrel, hence the local footie team being known as ‘The Squirrels’ (author – Peter from Liverpool, source – ‘A squirrel says hello’)

Sadly, the ground was later deemed unfit for the level the club was playing at and Formby FC was wound up in June 2014.

I love my footie, but I also enjoy travelling by rail, so it was perfect for me to be able to arrive at Formby station, a Merseyrail stop on the Northern line to Southport. The station opened as long ago as 1848, a year when revolutions were sweeping through Europe, but thankfully not through Formby. The station is immortalised in the song ‘Slow Train’ (1963), by the comedy duo Flanders & Swann, written as a lament to the quiet country stations and lines that were being culled by Dr. Beeching. Although most of the stations mentioned in the ditty did end up closed, Formby and the whole of the Liverpool-Southport line, got a thankful reprieve.

And so, on to Formby itself. A town of c. 22,500 (2011), which acts as a commuter town for Liverpool, but is a destination in its own right, with summer day trippers coming to enjoy the beaches and dunes, designated a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and protected by the National Trust, which has some 400 acres of dunes and foreshore to look after. Out of season www.lancmag.com

Below: St. Luke’s Church, Formby (author – ‘Rept0n1x’, source – Own work).

it’s a quiet, residential, coastal town.

During the summer it’s bustling.

There are a couple of important residents here, the endangered red squirrel and the Natterjack toad. Our native red squirrel has been given a rough time by the larger imported grey, so it’s good to see him/her hanging on at Formby, in amongst the pinewoods.

The Natterjack toad (male) has the booming mating call: ‘Natterjack’ therefore literally meaning the ‘jack’ (toad) that natters (chatters). It’s quite something listening out for this in quiet anticipation, then hearing the stillness interrupted by the ‘Bootle Organ’ bellowing out ‘Over ‘ere darlin!’ (or noises to that effect).

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Above: Formby railway station frontage seen from the road (author – ‘Rept0n1x’, source – Own work).

Below: Grave of (William) Percy French, St. Luke’s Church, Formby (author – Steven Coulton / EarthRise at English Wikipedia, source – transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by Small-town hero).

The sea was right here once, with a fishing village on the shore, from where fishermen set off in pursuit of cockles and shrimps certainly into the 19th century, but that sea has receded somewhat, as it has done at various places along the west coast. At Formby, the waves are around a mile distant, beyond those plentiful dunes, which were purchased by the National Trust in 1967 through public subscription and now represent the closest stretch of unspoilt coastline to the city of Liverpool. My National Trust handbook tells me that there are ‘three miles of shifting sands and dynamic dunes’ (I’m not sure I’ve ever equated dunes with the adjective ‘dynamic’ before), but also helpfully warns me about ‘long traffic queues in summer’. I’ll stick to the train, thank you. It’ll be worth the trip as much is promised: ‘scenic views over Liverpool Bay to the hills of North Wales’, plus views of the Cumbrian mountains.

There’s also an ‘Asparagus Trail’, another bit of the local heritage, plus you might see Prehistoric footprints that appear and disappear as the tides wax and wane.

There are two notable churches, St. Peter’s is built of brick and stone, and dates to around 1736. It’s adorned with a bellturret, commodious windows with round tops and clear glass, and was extended in 1873 with a chancel and side-chapel being added in the Gothic style. The church in Green Lane has its attractive church hall in the delightfully-named Paradise Lane. There’s also St. Luke’s (1854), which replaced an earlier chapel destroyed by a sandstorm of 1739. The church was extended in 1897. Both churches are Grade II Listed. One 104

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notable grave at St. Luke’s is that of (William) Percy French (1854-1920) the Irish-born songwriter, entertainer and watercolourist. He died of pneumonia aged 65 at the home of his cousin in Formby.

Formby, with its place name suffix of ‘-by’, has Viking antecedents, whilst there are also manorial mentions in the Domesday Book, so settlement hereabouts is certainly nothing new.

Grade II* Listed Formby Hall was built for William Formby, dates to c.1523, and was traditionally home to the local lord of the manor (the Formby family occupied the site much earlier than this, so this is presumably a replacement structure) : the hall is now the centrepiece of a hotel and spa, with most of the land surrounding the hall now occupied by its golf course. Formby has a total of 27 Listed buildings, including the hall and those two churches. All are Grade II Listed, with the exception of the hall and its early-18th century dovecote, which both enjoy the higher designation of a Grade www.lancmag.com

II* Listing. Most of Formby’s other Listed buildings are cottages and houses.

It’s believed that Formby was the site of the UK’s first lifeboat station (some sources say the world’s first), which may have been established as early as 1776, with one William Hutchinson (17151801), a Liverpool dock master, being among the prime movers. Mariner, privateer, author and inventor, it is unclear if Hutchinson helped establish that first station or whether it was entirely his own work. It certainly occurred while he was dock master at nearby Liverpool (1759-93). The last launch from the site occurred in 1916, during WW1. RAF Woodvale is on the town’s outskirts, was established in 1941, and became a WW2 fighter station. It was reputedly home to the final operational service of a Spitfire during the war and later on was the scene of the final flight of the same plane, whilst still in operational duties and carrying British military markings.

Above: Formby railway station viewed from the south. Although Formby was included in the lyrics of ‘Slow Train’, the station survived the Beeching closures (author – Neil Theasby / Formby railway station from the south / CC BY-SA 2.0, source – www.geograph.org.uk).

Below: William Hutchinson, who is credited with establishing the UK’s first lifeboat station in 1776 at Formby (author – ‘Plw123’, source – self-made).

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Another famous name associated with Formby is ‘Formby’. George Formby Snr. (1875-1921) was a Lancashire-born comedian, singer and music hall performer of the early-20th century. Known as the ‘Wigan Nightingale’ he made a career out of mimicking Lancashire stereotypes. Born James Lawler Booth, Formby apparently adopted his stage surname after he’d seen the destination ‘Formby’ on a railway carriage and decided he liked it. He was the father of the more-famous George Formby Jnr. (1904-61), he of the ukulele. I’m sure that George Junior, looking down perhaps, might have had a sprightly tune amongst his repertoire to chide me for pitching up at the wrong football ground a dozen and more years ago. Maybe ‘I’m leaning on a lamppost at the corner of the street in case a certain little football comes by, Oh me, oh my, I hope the little football comes by …’

Left: George Formby (Senior), a music hall artiste, who adopted the stage-name ‘Formby’ after he’d seen it as a destination on a railway carriage. Montage of 6 images of Formby in costume (author – unknown, source – various).

Above: St. Peter’s Church Hall, Paradise Lane, Formby (author – ‘Rept0n1x’, source – Own work).

References The Secret Diary of Stephen Roberts (S. Roberts, 2007) The Shell Guide to England (Ed. J. Hadfield, 1973) Formby FC match programme, 27th November 2007.

National Trust Handbook, 2020.

Formby Hall (www.formbyhallgolfresort.co.uk) Visit Sefton and West Lancs (www.visitseftonandwestlancs.co.uk) Southport Different Everytime (www.visitsouthport.com) 106

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WHAT’S ON AT THE GRAND

APRIL Sun 5 Wed 8 to Sat 11

JUL Menopause The Musical 2 Shrek The Musical

Tue 30 Jun to Thu 2

Absurd Person Singular

Sat 4 and Sun 5

In The Night Garden Live 2020

Tue 14

Harpy

Sat 11

Thu 16

La Bohème

Sun 19

A Tribute to Amy

Madama Butterfly

Sun 26

Johnny Cash Roadshow

Fri 17 Sat 18

Little Red Riding Hood

Sun 19

Frank Skinner: Showbiz

Tue 21 to Sat 25

Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em

Sun 26

Red Hot Chilli Pipers

Tue 28

Juliet and Romeo

The Lancashire Hotpots: Chips & Giggles Tour

UP COMING SHOWS Tue 4 to Sat 29 Aug

Dirty Dancing The Musical

Sun 13 Sept

Jon Richardson: The Knitwit Bring It On The Musical

Tue 6 to Sat 10 Oct

MAY Tue 5 to Sat 9

Alan Carr: Not Again, Alan!

Fri 20 and Sat 21 Nov Fri 4 Dec to Sun 3 Jan 2021

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Holes

Jan 2021

Russian State Ballet of Siberia

Sun 10

Julian Clary: Born To Mince

Feb 2021

Jason Manford: Like Me

Mon 11 to Wed 13

By The Waters of Liverpool

Sat 16

Breakin’ Convention

Sun 17

Ed Byrne: If I’m Honest

Tue 19 and Wed 20 Fri 22

The Tiger Who Came to Tea Lost In Music

Sat 23

Wilko Johnson

Sun 24

Steve Steinman’s Anything For Love

Wed 27 to Sat 30

Boogie Nights

JUN Mon 1 to Sat 6 Wed 10 and Thu 11 Sat 13 and Sun 14 Thu 18 Fri 19 Sat 20 Sun 28 Tue 30 to Thu 2 Jul

The Cat and The Canary

Take centre stage.

Introducing the 1894 Club.

A new loyalty scheme that offers an exclusive range of fantastic benefits.

Join now at www.1894club.co.uk

Rob Beckett: Wallop Peppa Pig’s Best Day Ever The Bon Jovi Experience The Overtones Tim Vine is Plastic Elvis Craig Revel Horwood Absurd Person Singular GOLD

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200 years since Anne Brontë’s birth A history of the youngest sister of the Brontë family

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nne Bronte was the youngest proud member of a strong literary family.

Her work was not afraid to tackle tough social issues including domestic violence, the subjugation of women and alcoholism. There is no doubt she was one of the first feminist writers.

Anne’s father Patrick was from humble Irish beginnings. The family was originally known as the Brunty family and he was one of 10 children born into poverty.

Despite this Patrick raised himself up, he learnt to read and write and helped others do the same. In 1802 he won a place at Cambridge to study theology and changed his name to Bronte as it sounded more ‘upper-class’.

After his studies in 1807 he was ordained a Church of England priest.

In 1811 he became the vicar of St Peter’s Church in Hartshead Yorkshire.

Then in 1812 he was appointed as an examiner in classics where at age 35 he met his future wife Maria Branwell.

Maria was from a wealthy merchant family with a strong Methodist faith.

Despite their differing backgrounds they were married in 1812.

Then in 1820 Patrick was appointed

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to St Michael and All Angel’s Church Haworth and they moved to the parsonage.

They had 6 children together, although tragically none of them were to live beyond the age of 40. Anne was the youngest (born in 1820) and had a hard start to life when her mother died of uterine cancer when she was barely a year old. Maria’s sister Elizabeth moved in to take care of the children.

In 1824 Maria, Elizabeth, Charlotte, and Emily were sent to the Clergy’s Daughter’s School at Cowan Bridge.

Tragedy struck when Maria and Elizabeth died of consumption (tuberculosis). Their distraught father brought Charlotte and Emily home to be educated at home with Anne.

The sisters studied, art, music, drawing literature and took piano lessons. Their interests in literature were further sparked by their father’s library where they devoured volumes of; Homer, Virgil, Shakespeare, Milton, and Byron, as well as studying the Bible.

In June 1826, their father gave their brother Branwell some toy soldiers and the children built a whole fantastical world around these figures. They called

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this African world Angria and it was full of heroes, outlaws, villains, and armies.

They created journals and magazines to chronicle its activities.

Then in 1831 Anne and Emily broke from the others and created their own fantasy world know as ‘Gondal’.

In 1835 Charlotte returned to Roe Head School and Anne went there as a pupil. Records show she was a diligent, kind, and thoughtful student. But in 1837 she contracted a serious bout of gastritis and returned home to recover.

By 1839 she was fully recovered and seeking work. She was well educated but poor and the only real options open were teaching, either in a school or as a governess. She chose the latter and in April she started work as a governess for the Ingham family at Blake Hall Mirfield.

Anne found her time here extremely hard. She was given no real authority to the punish the children, so they were unruly and disobedient. Mr Ingham treated her as a second-class citizen and Mrs Ingham patronised her. Anne did not last long there. She was dismissed by the Inghams and returned home for Christmas 1839. www.lancmag.com

The Brontë Sisters by Patrick Branwell Brontë Anne is on the left

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Brontë Parsonage

However, this tough time gave Anne great fuel for her writing and many aspects of this experience were fictionalised in her first novel, ‘Agnes Grey.’

For example, on her return to Haworth she was introduced to her Father’s new curate the charming William Weightman. There is a suggestion that Anne’s renewed interest in writing poetry may have been inspired by an undeclared (and unrequited) romantic interest in Weightman.

Also, Agnes in ‘Agnes Grey’ developed a renewed interest in poetry after she meets the charismatic parson Edward Weston.

Unfortunately, Weightman died of cholera in 1842 and a devastated Anne was left to voice her grief for him in the poem, ‘I will not mourn thee lovely one.’

With few other options Anne returned to work as a governess this time for the Reverend Edmund Robinson and family at Thorp Green Hall Country House near York. This setting was believed to be the inspiration for Horton Lodge in ‘Agnes Grey.’

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Anne worked hard and gained the respect (and lifelong friendship) of the Reverend’s children and even accompanied the family to Scarborough on several holidays. Anne was to grow very fond of Scarborough, and places in Scarborough were inspirations for settings in her novels.

Anne continued to write and had poems published under her pen name Acton Bell. All the Bronte sisters submitted their poems and novels under male pen names as they felt they would not be taken seriously as women writers.

Charlotte adopted the name ‘Currer’ and Emily ‘Ellis’.

In 1842 Anne was heart- broken when her close friend and Aunt, Elizabeth died. However, she did leave each of the sisters £350 in her will (equivalent to £30,000 today) this allowed Charlotte, Anne, and Emily to pay for a small volume of their poems to be published.

The poems received only moderate reviews and sold very badly with only two copies selling in the first year.

Anne was to find more success with her own poems and in December 1848 her poem, ‘The Narrow Way’ was

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published in the ‘Leeds Intelligencer’ and ‘Fraser’s Magazine’.

At the same time as their poems were being published the three sisters were all working on their respective first novels. Charlotte’s was ‘The Professor’, Emily’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ and Anne’s ‘Agnes Grey.’

Anne and Emily’s novels were accepted for publication but ‘The Professor’ was originally rejected.

However, Charlotte quickly wrote her second novel, ‘Jane Eyre’ which was published to great success and fanfare.

Anne enjoyed more modest success.

‘Agnes Grey’ was published in 1847. It follows Agnes, a governess, working as a governess for the affluent Bloomfields and was clearly based on Anne’s experiences.

The novel is now seen as an early feminist novel as it dealt with themes such as the subjugation and treatment of women, and the isolation and oppression of women working as governesses.

It was progressive in other ways too and it even struck an early blow for animal rights. In the novel Agnes takes it upon herself to kill some captured www.lancmag.com

Anne Brontë’s grave, Scarborough

birds to prevent them being tortured by the family’s sadistic son Tom. ‘Agnes Grey’ sold reasonably well but received a lot of critical negativity as it was seen to be excessively moralising.

Ironically, this concern for living a moral life is now seen as one of the novel’s strong points.

Anne was strongly religious and had a great belief in the home as being the site of moral instruction so it’s no coincidence that in times of great strife Agnes returns home to her family for help as Anne did through much of her life.

Anne’s second novel, ‘The Tenant of Wildfell Hall’ was published in June 1848 and was an instant massive success selling out in just 6 weeks.Told in the form of letters, it details the story of Helen Graham supposedly a young widow who leaves Wildfell Hall, after escaping from her abusive, alcoholic husband, with her young son. In one of the crucial scenes Helen shuts her bedroom door against her husband. In doing so she strikes a blow for feminism.

Then in fleeing from her husband, with her son, she violates social convention and 19th century English law. www.lancmag.com

Again, Anne drew heavily on her own life and there is a suggestion that Helen’s husband Arthur Huntingdon may be a reflection of her brother Branwell who was handsome and charming but also an alcoholic and sexually promiscuous. For example, Branwell (through Anne) also gained employment at Thorp Green but was dismissed when his affair with the Reverend’s wife was discovered.

Another possible source for the tale was a Mrs Collins who was the wife of an alcoholic curate who came seeking Anne’s Patrick’s help to escape her domestic situation.

The book was a great commercial success but heavily criticised for its ‘coarse’ subject matter. However, Anne revealed her intentions in writing the book when she declared, ‘Is it better to reveal the snares and pitfalls of life to the young and thoughtless traveller or to cover them with branches and flowers?’

Despite the sisters’ seemingly being destined for long, successful literary careers, great tragedy was to strike the family over the next 10 months.

First to die was Branwell who succumbed to tuberculosis in September 1848 aged just 31. Then a seemingly innocent cough developed into something more serious and on the 19th December Emily died.

There is no doubt this double tragedy weakened Anne mentally and physically and she contracted influenza. However, she fought hard to recover and in early 1849 headed to Scarborough to convalesce. Unfortunately, the disease had hold of her too tightly and she died in Scarborough on 28th May 1849 aged just 29.

Despite being overshadowed by the continued success of Charlotte’s ‘Jane Eyre’ there is no doubt that Anne was one of our greatest early feminist writers and is rightly celebrated as one of the great Bronte sisters.

Howarth Parsonage is now the Bronte Parsonage museum maintained by the Bronte Society and is a treasure trove for anyone looking to find out more about this amazing literary family.

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Bluebells raise the spirits in a difficult spring While we have been locked in our homes, our local woods have been awash with carpets of bluebells.

by Alan Wright

A

s we reach the end of May, bluebells are now starting to “go over” which means they will die back until next spring.

But their abundance has helped to raise spirits during the pandemic crisis according to Alan Wright, Campaigns Manager at the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside.

Alan said: “Wandering through our local woods has been such a pleasure this year, most of the routes are lined with bluebells and carpets of this beautiful flower stretch out into the woods for hundreds of yards.

“This is great news for pollinators, like bumblebees and hoverflies, so there is an added buzz to the colours of the bluebells.”

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by Alan Wright

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by Alan Wright

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by Alan Wright

The bluebell is a favourite and unmistakeable woodland flower, with its narrow, drooping leaf fronds, and bending flower stems that are heavy with nodding, blue bell-shaped flowers.

It spends most of the year as bulb underground in ancient woodland, only emerging to flower and leaf from April onwards. This early flowering allows it to make the most of the sunlight that is still able to make it to the forest floor habitat, before the canopy becomes too dense.

Millions of bulbs may exist in one bluebell wood, causing the blue carpets we associate with spring.

While bluebell woods have been undisturbed during the lockdown period, Alan said there are other reasons why this year’s crop has been so big. He said: “We have had fewer people trampling on bluebells this year and, you would hope, that most people know that they don’t live long if you pick them.

“However, the numbers of bluebells are down to excellent woodland management, clearing away invaders like Himalayan balsam and coppicing so the sunlight gets through to the trees.

“The work of the Wildlife Trust in Boilton Wood and Mere Sands Wood has been rewarded by spectacular displays of bluebells this spring.

Bluebells have been abundant this year by Alan Wright

To learn more about the conservation work of the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside on your patch go to www.lancswt.org.uk.

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is dedicated to the protection and promotion of the wildlife in Lancashire, seven boroughs of Greater Manchester and four of Merseyside, all lying north of the River Mersey. It manages around 40 nature reserves and 20 Local Nature Reserves covering acres of woodland, wetland, upland and meadow. The Trust has 27,000 members, and over 1,200 volunteers.

To become a member of the Trust go to the website at www.lancswt.org.uk or call 01772 324129. For more information about Cheshire Wildlife Trust call 01948 820728 or go to cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk.

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Hearts for Homes began in 2016 when we opened our quaint shop in the lovely town of Ramsbottom.

The concept of Hearts of Homes was to bring affordable yet charming home decor and gifts to our customers. We also offer a selection of locally handmade crafts and work by local artists and are stockists of Frenchic furniture paint

We pride ourselves on offering a friendly welcome to all of our customers who visit us from far and wide.

47 Bridge Street, Ramsbottom, BLO 9AD I 01706 560462 I www.heartsforhomes.co.uk

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Surreal, bold and

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Rochdale-born artist Rachael Clegg talks to us about her cult calendars and niche art prints.

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somewhat brave: Many things have come out of Rochdale. It’s the birthplace of the Co-op, home to Gracie Fields and has the widest cobbled road in Europe.

Rachael was no stranger to art, either, having studied Art Foundation at Manchester Met and then Art History at York, while working at Tate Liverpool at the same time. But despite this, she had never dabbled in art nude photography. She remembers the day she first told her mum of her new idea: “We were in Marks and Spencers’ cafe in Bury, near my hometown of Rochdale, having tea and scones”, said Rachael. “I was slightly nervous of broaching the subject despite being a fully fledged adult - so it took me half a scone to build up the courage. It felt as if I was making some momentous announcement even though it was just… a calendar.

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And while the choice of subject matter for such a project may seem a little unusual, for Rachael it was perfectly natural. “I was born into a family of motorcycle racers. My father, Noel Clegg, and granddad Tom Clegg were TT racers. Dad competed in the event for more than thirty years and was often in the top five. To be at the TT was as traditional as Christmas in our family.”

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But these aren’t just any monochrome images - Rachael’s creations each interpret a specific event in history and are shot at the exact location of the original event. Her debut - and continuing - calendar series, Milestones, is about the history of the Isle of Man TT.

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And in recent years, adding to this varied list, is artist Rachael Clegg, whose signature art nude images have garnered something of a cult following in recent years.

Nürburgring calendar cover

Rachael remembers the conversation well: “Mum,” I said: “I’ve been thinking of making a calendar….”

“That’s nice. What kind of calendar? said mum.”

“A nudey calendar,” I said.

There was a silence and then, with the sort of tact only a Northern mother is capable of, she said: “Well it’s amazing what they can do with Photoshop, isn’t it?.”

“Thanks mum,” I said.”

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gg lC le ac he R © Nürburgring calendar cover

But the Milestones calendar series started long before Rachael broke the news to her mum Marks and Sparks. “The idea struck me while traveling back from the Isle of Man TT in 2011. I had recorded one of the press conferences with Guy Martin and John McGuinness and decided to listen to it on the train home to Sheffield, where I live now. The press conference was deeply entertaining and Guy was comedy gold. And that got me thinking about the quirkiness of the TT, and how I could capture it in art form. I decided that I wanted to capture that spirit - somehow - in a series of images about the TT and its bonkers, brilliant history.”

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So Rachael decided to make a calendar. Not just any calendar though. “I wanted to fuse the event’s history with a sense of quirkiness. Furthermore - this had to be an artist photographic calendar, properly-shot, not cheesy or in anyway ‘glamour’ and featuring props that were relevant to the story behind the picture.

On top of this, each image would be shot at the exact location where the event happened. I had my work cut out,” she said.

“Within a few months I had amassed well of TT stories, all of which were percolating in my head 24/7 so I started sketching out some ideas. I knew, for example, that I wanted a naked woman ‘mowing’ the road at Sulby Crossroads (Sulby) - where sidecar driver Tim Reeves replaced a throttle cable with one from a lawnmower. And

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Above: Gooseneck

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that the ‘Gooseneck’ section would somehow feature its avian namesake. All I needed now was a van, a photographer, time off my then full-time job (not easy), shed loads of props, money for the ferry and a goose.”

Somehow, the stars started to align. “My dad lent me a van, I scraped enough money for the ferry crossing and - more importantly, I’d found my photographer - an Aussie and former BBC foreign correspondent who was living briefly on the Isle of Man (he would later be arrested in Cairo but more of that later.)… And even better, my IOM-based friend - and possibly the funniest woman in the world - Shaz, had volunteered as ‘assistant.’”

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Left: ‘Usual Suspects’ image for Ferodo ad campaign

Within weeks Rachael was driving a borrowed Citroen Berlingo to Heysham stacked with all manner of crazy props.”I had a toilet, a box of old motorcycle chains, an exhaust system, some bagpipes, some grotty jerry cans, a stuffed seagull, a tutu, mannequin legs and enough feather boas to stock a Parisian cabaret hall. The TT adventure had begun…”

“Shooting it was so much fun”, she said. “But bloody hard work. We started at 4am every day, in order to catch first light and to avoid the traffic, as the TT course is a live road, or roads, rather.”

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gg lC le ac he R © Brandywell

“Brandywell was one of the first shots we took of the Milestones series. There are lots of historical stories relating to Brandywell - the highest point of the TT course. And most of these are relating to its topography: it’s often here where many a rider has run out of fuel, including Phillip McCallen who ran out of fuel at Brandywell and free-wheeled for five miles afterwards.”

“To illustrate this story we filled a Jerry can with water, in order to give it some stability and I balanced on it in the middle of the road.

This was possibly the riskiest shot we did, given the fact there is no speed limit on this section of the road (the Isle of Man does not have a national speed limit) and this was, after all, a live road. Added to this - and this it not something you could possibly know unless you’ve been naked on a racing course - the shell grip is quite painful to run on bare-footed.”

Throughout these initial weeks Rachael captured more than 40 images across the TT course, each charting a moment in the event’s history (the TT started in 1907). She went back each subsequent year

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to take more art-nude shots - all interpreting and ‘recreating’ events in history. Peter Greste - the original photographer - was arrested while working for Aljazeera in Cairo so Rachael hooked up with current photographer Ian Parry.

And as the Milestones series notoriety grew, Rachael received requests for other subjects and in 2014 she devised an epic series of images celebrating the history of the Nürburgring in Germany - one of the most treacherous and legendary circuits in motorsport history, immortalised in the film Rush.

Rachael explains: “To cut a massive story and a contract the size of War and Peace short, in spring 2015 I was given the key to the Almighty Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit. We had private access to the circuit every morning (before the likes of Porsche started their testing sessions) at 8am and every night after 7.30pm. It was incredible and WHAT a circuit - the undulations, the forests, the twists and the scale of it was mouth-wateringly photogenic.”

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gg lC le ac he R © Sulby Straight

One of the images from the Nürburgring series is Wippermann.

“That’s about the late John Surtees CBE, who raced here on his MV Agusta and later for Ferrari. Surtees said that the Nurburgring’s fast, bumpy Wipperman section was his favourite. He won here six times, and was the only World Champion on two and four wheels. His first motorcycle victory at the ‘Ring was in 1955 on an MV Agusta and his first car win was in 1963, driving a Ferrari he described as being made ‘from a box of bits’.

Another cult image from this series is Kesselchen, which is about the late Sir Stirling Moss. “The shot tells the story of Moss’ fracas with a fire extinguisher during a race in 1952, when his extinguisher accidentally discharged and covered him in foam,” said Rachael.

But that’s just one of umpteen stories about Moss, says Rachael, who travelled to Moss’ London townhouse to interview him for the series. “It was a chic, elegant time-capsule of a pad,” she said. “He shared his tales of racing at the Nürburgring - including meeting fellow racing maestro Juan Manuel Fangio, with whom he would talk about ‘cars and crumpet’.

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There are hundreds of images from the Milestones series and the Nürburgring series - most of which are on Rachael’s site. Her other projects include - among many others - a series commissioned by satellite company SES about the history of rocket and satellite technology. She’s also worked as an art director for the likes of Ferodo and Champion. “Everything has a story,” says Rachael, “I just like telling them in a particularly unusual way.”

And all this - the rockets, the Nürburgring and the commissions - started with a 2am ferry crossing from Heysham to the Isle of Man in a van full of mad props. “It was an adventure then and it is still an adventure now,” says Rachael.

Rachael Clegg’s images can be seen at www.rachaelclegg.com Her contact details are rachael@rachaelclegg.com LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 121

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip,

by Dr Helen Flaherty, Head of Health Promotion at Heart Research UK

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Healthy Barbecuing

Summer is here and many of us are heading out to our gardens to fire up the barbecue. Some of the foods traditionally cooked on barbecues, such as burgers and sausages, can be high in calories, saturated fat and salt.

However, barbecued food does not have to be unhealthy. We have some tips for enjoying a heart-healthy barbecue without compromising on taste.

These tips can also be followed when cooking in the kitchen.

Choose a healthy source of protein Foods that are high in saturated fat, such as red meat, butter and hard cheese, can increase your risk of heart disease. You can cut down on saturated fat for your barbecue by swapping red meat, sausages and burgers for skinless chicken, fish or low-fat vegetarian meat substitutes.

Alternatively, you can thread cubes of chicken or firm fish onto skewers with slices of bell pepper, courgettes, mushrooms, red onion and cherry tomatoes before grilling.

Swap white bread rolls for high-fibre alternatives Increasing the amount of fibre in your diet can reduce your risk of heart disease. Instead of using white bread rolls for your barbecue, you could switch to wholegrain rolls or wholegrain pitta, a brown rice salad or jacket potato.

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Add some colour

Healthy grilled desserts

Include plenty of salad and vegetables to make your barbecue colourful and nutritious. Avoid using too much salad dressing on salads as this is often high in calories. Try rubbing a spicy marinade on pieces of courgette, bell pepper, onion, cauliflower florets, and mushrooms and grilling them on the barbecue.

Try grilling slices of pineapple, watermelon, halved bananas, peaches, nectarines or plums for a healthy dessert. The natural sugars will caramelise, giving them a lovely sweet flavour.

Serve with a spoonful of thick, creamy yoghurt and sprinkle with a handful of chopped toasted nuts, such as hazelnuts or almonds.

To make the marinade, mix together 2tbsp olive oil, 1tsp harissa or chilli paste, 1tbsp lemon juice, 2tbsp tomato puree, 1tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground coriander and ½ tsp Dijon mustard. Rub or brush the marinade onto the veg and leave it for at least 20 minutes in the fridge before putting it on the grill (you can thread the veg onto skewers before grilling if you wish).

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What’s Trending At The Rug Seller new and best-selling products summer 2020 Design director Daniel Prendergast share his Top Picks currently available from The Rug Seller

Image credit PinterestCharla Landis

Faux Fur – for use on outdoor furniture for a super stylish look It may be summer but that’s not stopping consumers accessorising their outdoor living spaces and homes with faux fur – a true timeless, all season style sensation. But homeowners aren’t putting them on the floor – they look fabulous on rattan outdoor furniture, perfect for day or evening outdoor entertaining spaces.

Faux Fur sheepskin rugs start from £20 at The Rug Seller https://www.therugseller.co.uk/faux-fur/d-27-19539 New Flair faux fur rugs. Available in 6 colours: white, pink, grey, mauve, teal and mink. Choose from ranges including Flair, Anja Helsinki and Glacier faux fur rugs – all £20 (60 x 90 cm) For a range of sizes try the Auckland Luxury Faux Fur Sheepkin in silver, honey, white or pink – from £44 to £169.

Image credit Instagram Danielle Louise Doughty

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Geometrics – A look that keeps on giving season after season

The Rug Seller Dakari Nuru Modern Geometric Rug - Natural https://www.therugseller.co.uk/dakari-rugs/d-26-41421

The Rug Seller Dakari Imari Modern Boho Rugs - Grey https://www.therugseller.co.uk/dakari-rugs/d-26-41421

An All Round Favourite – trending product Zira Rugs from The Rug Seller feature a stunning circular design with intricate patterns which have been skillfully hand woven and stitched in India. It’s made from 100% Jute which is a shiney, vegetable fibre which is spun to create course, strong threads for this durable rug that can be used in all rooms in the house. Jute is a natural fibre so it’s economically friendly.

New = Kendra Circle, £49 www.therugseller.co.uk /d-46-45662

The Rug Seller Zira Circular Jute Rug - Turquoise www.therugseller.co.uk/zira-circular-jute-rugs-005-in turquoise/p-48-19565-28559-4 www.lancmag.com

Piatto Round Rugs,£75 www.therugseller.co.uk/ piatto_round_ rugs/d-46-48709

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Clergyman and rogue A story of a clergyman who spent a lot of time in and out of prison.

Words: John Wright

Clergyman and rogue, Henry Frederick Mercer (ww1anzac.com and National Archives of Australia)

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hen the West Australian headed their April 16, 1912 news item about the appointment of the Very Reverend Henry Frederick Mercer as the new Dean of Perth “AN INTERESTING PERSONALITY”, they probably had no idea quite how interesting he would turn out to be.

Mercer was born on 30 March 1872 at Barrow-in-Furness (historically part of Lancashire), the son of accountant Thomas Atherton Mercer and his wife Mary, née Darricott. He went to Giggleswick Grammar School in the Yorkshire Dales and in 1890 Christ’s College, Cambridge which he left after five terms. In 1896 he became a Church of England priest in London and married Eleanor Kate Hill, a daughter born the following year.

Mercer became secretary of the Church Army in London for a few years then studied at Western University in Ontario, Canada, from where he would later falsely claim to have an MA. Things happened fast with Mercer.

In 1907 he moved to Australia with

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Eleanor and daughter (now 10) after being appointed to St Columb’s Church in Melbourne. In 1908 Eleanor died and in 1909 he married Jean Miller Tannock.

By 1912 he was being welcomed in Perth. And boy did the West Australian’s 1,843-word article wax lyrical. Despite citing no real evidence that he had been “reluctant to leave his first parish” in Melbourne where “both he and Mrs. Mercer left behind numerous friends and were the recipients of many parting gifts,” his credentials were reportedly as impressive as his new provincial equals wanted them to be. Proud that he had picked them, “Mr. Mercer adds to the small number of Cambridge clergymen in the State, having graduated at Christ’s College,” true apart from the “graduated” bit.

He was a charmer, but it wasn’t that long before the man who appointed him, the hapless Bishop of Perth, Charles Owen Leaver Riley, started wondering if his new man was all

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he seemed. “Last year,” the paper continued, “Mr. Mercer brought out a book entitled Men Only” about temptations they should avoid, the socalled Truth newspaper slamming it as “so vaguely and delicately worded that any man might take his maiden aunt without fear of increasing the lady’s stock of worldly wisdom.”

It wasn’t really his worthy public image Riley minded, Mercer soon (July 22) chastising them about the evils of gambling: “Hundreds of young fellows are annually ruined by it, and, fearing exposure, they steal their employers’ money.” The cleverness of creating an outward image of moral rectitude must have made Bishop Riley’s sinking feeling even worse on discovering that his protégé had notched up debts of £2,000, a staggering sum which today would be worth more than £120,000.

In a way, the arrival of war offered Mercer a way out of his dubious spotlight, not that his thoughts were on defending the Motherland.

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The hapless Archbishop C.O.L. Riley, c1913, who appointed Henry Frederick Mercer as Dean of Perth in 1912 (State Library of Western Australia, BA544-1)

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Above: HMAT Argyllshire

Left: Henry Frederick Mercer’s application for a commission as a chaplain in the Australian Imperial Force (Australian Military Forces), 1916 (National Archives of Australia)

Right: St George’s Cathedral, Perth, Western Australia where H.F. Mercer became Dean of Perth in 1912 (Frank Hurley photo, 1910-62, National Library of Australia,157564225-1)

In fact, coincidentally, in 1916 both men applied for commissions as chaplains in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and, on November 9, 44-year-old Mercer embarked at Fremantle on HMAT Argyllshire, bound for England. Yet even their respective voyages would symbolise the difference between them.

While Mercer’s incident-free passage to London landed him an instant desk job, the Heversham Grammar School and Owens College-educated (now University of Machester), actual Cambridge graduate and rector of parishes in Preston and Morecombe, AIF Anglican Chaplain-General Riley’s introduction to war was far less cosy.

He visited the Second Front and on the return voyage his troopship Ivernia was torpedoed in the Mediterranean. 130 were killed and Riley lost everything but the clothes he was wearing while helping a lifeboat with 50 other survivors in it reach a trawler.

Meanwhile, Mercer was enjoying being chaplain at No.2 Auxiliary Australian Hospital in Southall, London having resigned as Dean of Perth and from the AIF the moment he got there.

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(now 20) back in Perth, they returned to Melbourne where in 1919 they applied for a free passage to England, presumably to join him, and were refused. He never saw them again, Jean dying in 1947.

Mercer saw the war out, according to his Australian Dictionary of Biography listing by John Tonkin, as “a temporary lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve from August 1917, and captain in the Royal Air Force in 1918-19,” and by 1921 he became a teacher at an English school at Calcutta, India, calling himself ‘Dr H. F. Mercer (late Captain A.I.F.)’ despite not being a doctor. “He was gaoled at Zürich, Switzerland, for 20 days in 1927 for failing to pay his hotel bill.”

Back in England again, Mercer would now spend the next two decades in and out of jail five times, for sentences of from six to 18 months for fraud, the police for some reason once chivalrously suggesting that “his position was largely due to the intemperate habits of the woman he calls his wife.” And the Australian press was quick to follow every step on his ever-winding path. “ARE ‘DR. AND MRS. MERCER’ IMPOSTERS?

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UNUSUAL CASE”, The Evening News (Rockhampton, Queensland) headline asked on April 3, 1930.

Mercer was now either a bigamist or his girlfriend was posing as his wife to look respectable.

“A man giving the name of Henry Frederick Mercer (58) and a woman, Florence Beatrice Carey (39),” they wrote, “were charged with obtaining credit with intent to defraud by staying at a local hotel and being unable to meet a bill of £3/9 shillings.

A detective giving evidence said that he experienced difficulty in ascertaining who the man was. Mercer said that his name appeared in Crockford’s Clerical Directory. An inspection showed that there was a clergyman named Henry Frederick Mercer, who had been archbishop of Melbourne and Dean of Perth.” Had Mercer made himself an archbishop too?

“Mercer explained that he was unable to meet the bill until Monday, but that he could have got the money if he had known it would be presented.

He mentioned two clergymen, both of whom refused to meet the bill. The defendants’ solicitor said there was no intention to defraud. They had simply www.lancmag.com

spent all their ready money.” They were discharged.

Lucky that time if not the next, namely December 7, 1933, when The Uralla Times (New South Wales) story was headed, “Gaol for Fallen Dean.

Henry Frederick Mercer, 61, formerly Dean of Perth (W.A.), was sentenced at the Old Bailey, London, on Tuesday to 18 months’ imprisonment for false pretences. 13 charges were dealt with, exclusive of 195 other cases, where he had induced hotelkeepers to give money for advertisements and photographs in guidebooks which had never appeared.”

The Rockhampton Evening News again watched from afar on February 21, 1939, announcing, “FORMER DEAN SENTENCED ON FRAUD CHARGE. The former Dean of Perth, Henry Frederick Mercer, 67, was [today] sentenced to six months’ imprisonment at Rhyl [Denbighshire, Wales] for defrauding his landlady with a false cheque. He admitted other similar offences. The solicitor defending him said that “Mercer had descended to fraud to provide food for his wife and family after a long period of unemployment.” His apparent lack of embarrassment in court was not just www.lancmag.com

a clue to his lack of character, but it was becoming clear that he also seemed to relish all the attention.

And so the cases went on, the Daily Mercury headline in Mackay, Queensland on October 7, 1946, “DEAN GAOLED FOR THEFT”. This time the aging crook was introduced thus: “White-haired and benevolentlooking, Henry Frederick Mercer looked like a churchman and, in fact, had been the Dean of Perth, Western Australia, but this week he went to gaol again for fraud. He admitted being involved in more than 200 cases of fraud in the past. Born 74 years ago, Mercer had a strange career. In Perth he was generally regarded as a man of charming personality and striking appearance. He was a noted temperance worker and teetotaller, but loved a good cigar. In Perth he had no police record.”

The newspaper described his career, including all the erroneous or unproven bits, saying “the Dean, by no means gloomy, resigned office in 1917 [1916] and went overseas with the AIF [it lasted for the voyage to London only] as a chaplain. Afterwards he was granted

a combatant commission [evidence of actual action unspecified]...The war over, Mercer did journalistic work in India, became a lecturer and examiner at Calcutta University.” So was he a schoolteacher or university lecturer?

Either way, his claim that “he found it increasingly difficult to make a living” seems unlikely, unless he meant making it honestly.

The paper reported on previous cases, such as when Mercer was given “six months’ hard labour for fraud at Southport [Merseyside]...The fraud for which Mercer again went to prison this week was like the others – involving a comparatively small sum obtained by a worthless cheque from a Sussex licensee.” Mercer died in Wandsworth Prison Hospital of natural causes, probably exhausted after all of this, on February 22, 1949, at the age of 76, the prison doctor testifying that “he seemed to be a happy man and very cheerful up to within half an hour of his death.”

He probably suddenly realised he could have got a couple of quid out of the doctor as well.

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Chasing nothing The government recently set a zero target for carbon emission. Bevan Ridehalgh looks at what this means and relates some past experiences.

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n February 2020, Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers said: “Trees are vital in the fight against climate change, to tackle air pollution and to help us achieve our net-zero target by 2050.” She said this about trees because their leaves absorb carbon dioxide from the air.

A tree’s age determines the level of this carbon absorption. A newly planted one puts most of its energy into trunk, branch and leaf growth. Thus, it is when the trees are well established, with a vigorous leaf growth, that they are at their peaks regarding the removal of carbon dioxide. The vigour of leaf growth is also affected by the climate.

The desired natural actions are at their most active when it is warm, sunny and moist.

Given the long lives that trees have it is important to look ahead if we are intending to plant some to help the environment. This is because a tree’s species also affects its level of carbon absorption. It is not too good to just say, “We will plant some trees.”

My wife, Barbara, was aware of the benefits of planting trees long before I was. We have a small farm and back in 1993 she contacted a specialist in the world of trees. He visited us and then

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planned two separate woods hosting sixteen native species. He decided that there were to be lots of some species but just a few of others. He estimated that the trees he chose would balance the carbon output generated by our own activities and others made on our behalf.

Wyre Council has committed to planting 25,000 trees over the next five years to help to tackle climate change.

That equates to 5,000 trees per year.

But we once planted 2,500 trees in one go and this planting made the national press. If that looks like a criticism of Wyre Borough Council it is not meant to be. It just shows the number of trees we are talking about in the battle against carbon. Although the number is high, even the odd one you are planting will help.

One of our woods has a path alongside whilst the other can be rambled through although it is not recommended as an activity to be undertaken in Sunday Best. Does Sunday Best still exist or am I showing my age? Whatever, the rambles have been made all the more pleasant by the planting of such as snowdrops, bluebells and primulas on their floors.

Having dealt with our carbon

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emissions we began to hopefully wonder if there was anything else we could do which would help the environment. We decided there was. We would install a wind turbine.

We contacted an energy company that had installed nearly 400 turbines in the East of England. We, therefore, thought that the way forward would be pretty simple. And so it seemed since the company could install a turbine in the middle of our land which would meet all the international requirements regarding distances from houses, roads, woods and ponds; these last two being there to protect wildlife.

We have two meters linked to the National Grid; a commercial one and a domestic one. The company planned to supply electricity to the Grid by linking to the commercial one. Any electricity we used from this source would be free thus compensating us for the loss of income from the land that was taken over by the company.

We were totally wrong to think that all would be straight-forward. The planning application released a storm.

It was discussed at an early date at a meeting of the Stalmine with Staynall Parish Council. The chair started things off concerning it by saying, “They have www.lancmag.com

not said why they want this.” I nearly said to grow roses up. Then, a member of the public made an unbelievable speech against the proposal. He said he knew people who lived near to one and they had permanent headaches, could not watch television because it flickered, could not sleep because of the noise…

No one seemed to know this man.

Was he from Stalmine? The Council was totally wrong in not asking for any proof of his right to speak. It did not even ask him for his name or the name of his friend.

The Parish Council decided to formally object to the proposal because of its proximity to local residents (particularly to those on the nearby park homes site) noise nuisance with its possible effects on health and the road access for the development. All of this showed that not one of them had bothered to look into the rules and laws covering such installations. In particular, the last comment showed that not one of them had even bothered to read the application since it was clear that the only movement was one lorry visiting just once to bring on site the turbine and the equipment to install it.

And this had already been approved

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way, a wheel-wash had to be installed to clean the lorry’s wheels before it went back on the road. I wonder what the two farmers on the council would have thought of that had they bothered to read it.

Unfortunately, the application did cause other adverse reactions. Dynamos are dangerous for people’s health, said one lady. It would be an eyesore that could be seen for miles around, said one man. This man actually had a taller streetlamp by his house and as you can see from our picture, the intended turbine was not exactly gigantic. It would scare horses. It would kill many birds. It would kill Great Crested Newts. I did not know we had any these and I did not realise they could fly! And it would confuse those who did fly said some body, despite the fact that Blackpool Airport and British Aerospace at Warton both stated they had no concerns.

A representative of the County Council was against it because he was of the opinion that the cable feed from the turbine to the mains passed through a pond. I believe he viewed a shot of the field from the lane that passes by after there had been several days of heavy rain. His “pond” was in fact a

flooding of six inches or so in a hollow.

I will not comment further, but the turbine company could not believe what it was hearing. It had never had any trouble before and decided not to waste time appealing when the application was eventually rejected. It had many other irons in the fire and did not have time and money to waste.

Thus, Ms Theresa Villiers, as Environment Secretary, prepare yourself for having to deal with some difficult people. Myself, I do not mind dealing with such people but I do object when they do not even have the grace to read any documentation on the matter being discussed. And we should all remember that often there is no gain without pain.

Postscript: To be fair, I must point out that all the officials I dealt with have moved on and their places are now taken by others who have approved the erection of quite a number of turbines.

These include large ones at Garstang and the nearby Nateby. The one at Garstang was built in 2010 whilst the two at Nateby followed three or so years later.

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Penrith & District Red Squirrel Group Penrith & District Red Squirrel Group (P&DRSG) is a registered charity operating over 650 square miles of Cumbria and is committed to preventing the extinction of red squirrels in the wild in their natural environment.

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he native red squirrel was widespread in Britain. However, following the release of grey squirrels into England from North America in 1876, red squirrels have rapidly disappeared, as greys have spread, from almost the whole of England and Wales and are now under threat in south Scotland too.

Thankfully, reds continue to flourish in this part of Cumbria as a result of our grey management work. Penrith & District Red Squirrel Group work tirelessly at extending their existence here. P&DRSG differs from other groups in that we have a small team of 5 dedicated paid “Red Squirrel Ranger” self- employed contractors supplemented by 2 further rangers who are directly employed respectively

by Center Parcs at Whinfell and Red Squirrels North England, working across this vast area of the county.

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landscape squirrel management programme, the iconic red squirrels can survive and thrive into the future overcoming many of the challenges the grey squirrels bring.

Grey squirrels out compete the reds for food and habitat and are carriers of the dreaded squirrel pox virus disease (SQPVD) which is always fatal to red squirrels if they come into contact with it. Bark stripping by greys causes major economic, social and environmental damage to trees. Grey squirrels are also predators of bird eggs and will kill and eat fledglings. They are also known to raid nests of dormice. Houses, sheds and outbuildings often have problems with grey squirrels – they tear up insulation and chew through roof timbers, electrical cables and pipes.

It is without doubt that the tremendous success of P&DRSG’s work for red squirrels to date has helped to protect these enchanting creatures

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and prevented them from becoming extinct. This could not have been achieved without effective grey squirrel management and the support of our 600 members, numerous volunteers and importantly sponsors.

Red squirrels are now present throughout the woodlands of our group area and we also hear from many members who are now enjoying the company of red squirrel visitors to their gardens.

The regular income from membership and many fundraising events throughout the year helps us to plan our work activities and our aim is not only to sustain red squirrel presence in this glorious part of Cumbria but to help reds spread further – one of our rangers spends a lot of his own time coordinating work down the Lune Valley and is close on getting into Lancashire. www.lancmag.com

The native red squirrel was widespread in Britain. However, following the release of grey squirrels into England from North America in 1876, red squirrels have rapidly disappeared,

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Funding a group like this is a major effort year on year. We have to raise in excess of ÂŁ100,000 each year and now of course opportunities to raise funds have all been lost through the Corona Virus pandemic.

You can help keep this area Red for both now and future generations to come by becoming a member too! please.

Contact us below to sign up.

Annual membership starts from as little as ÂŁ20 but please feel free to give more; the more you give, the more we can do!

A regular contribution by standing order would be much appreciated as would some meaningful sponsorship or a major donation.

All membership money is spent on red squirrel conservation here; as one of the last places in England where native red squirrels still exist and they need you now!

The map shows the area covered by the group which also works closely with other groups in the County.

Penrith & District Red Squirrel Group Woodside, Armathwaite, Cumbria, CA4 9SX Tel : 07788 264571 Email : info@penrithredsquirrels.org.uk Website : www.penrithredsquirrels.org.uk Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/PDRSG01/ www.lancmag.com

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 137

A wedding treat for our heroes at Brockholes One lucky couple will be able to put their heroic efforts aside for a short time while getting married at an amazing North West beauty spot.

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rockholes Nature Reserve is aiming to celebrate a heroes’ wedding, as a thank you for stepping up in the fight against Coronavirus.

The competition is open to anyone who has been helping others during the Coronavirus pandemic; they simply need to share their story for a chance to win a wedding worth over £9,000.

Lindsey Poole, Director of Marketing said “We have seen so many heartwarming stories of individuals going above and beyond in the current crisis to help people through. Whether they are a front line key worker, or an individual who has become a hero supporting others, we want to thank them by hosting their special day at Brockholes.

Stella Photography

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Loki Weddings

With the hospitality and weddings industry in shut down, we knew it was a big ask to suppliers to help us bring this dream to life. We have been blown away by the positivity and willingness to help from these suppliers, many of whom, like us, have had their income streams stopped overnight.”

Caroline Wilson, Administration Officer at Brockholes is the only member of the team not on furlough at the closed reserve. Caroline said “much of my job over the past month has been to support our existing couples move their weddings following the announcement of the ban. It is a heartbreaking time for all of our couples but they have all been tremendously understanding and we have managed to move all couples, or pencil in ‘back-up’ dates for them.

To be able to offer a dream day to one couple who are out there making a real difference is brilliant, and we are sure reading through all of the entries will give us a boost”.

Brockholes opened in 2011, but following the government guidelines closed the gates on 20th March.

Brockholes is managed by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, a local conservation charity.

Entries are open NOW at www.brockholes.org and shortlisted to 10 finalists who will be put to the public vote in July with winners announced in September.

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is dedicated to the protection and promotion of the wildlife in Lancashire, seven boroughs of Greater Manchester and four of Merseyside, all lying north of the River Mersey. It manages around 40 nature reserves and 20 Local Nature Reserves covering acres of woodland, wetland, upland and meadow. The Trust has 27,000 members, and over 1,200 volunteers.

To become a member of the Trust go to the website at www.lancswt.org.uk or call 01772 324129. For more information about Cheshire Wildlife Trust call 01948 820728 or go to cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk.

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Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip,

by Dr Helen Flaherty, Head of Health Promotion at Heart Research UK

Look after your heart and mind Approximately one in four people in the UK will experience mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression or schizophrenia. People with mental health problems have an increased risk of developing heart disease. If you are living with a mental health condition, there are things you can do to reduce this risk. Looking after your physical health can reduce your risk of developing heart disease as well as impacting positively on your mental health.

Follow a healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight Eating a healthy diet can have a positive impact on your mood. Changing dietary habits can be difficult, but small changes can make a big difference. Try to plan healthy meals in advance and make sure you include five portions of fruit and veg every day.

Get plenty of physical activity Being physical activity can help to improve your mood.

Try to establish a realistic physical activity routine that fits in with your commitments. If you are not very active now, you should start slowly and try to be active every day, for example by going out for a short walk. If you do not feel like going outside, try exercising indoors.

Cut down on alcohol

Alcohol acts as a depressant and can have a negative impact on your mental health as well increasing your risk of heart disease. Try cutting down on alcohol by swapping to drinks with a lower alcohol content or having a soft drink between alcoholic drinks.

Stop smoking

Stay hydrated If you are not adequately hydrated, you may find it difficult to think clearly and concentrate. Try to drink 6 to 8 glasses/ cups of fluid each day. Water is a cheap and healthy option.

Tea, coffee and juices all count, but these may be high in sugar or caffeine.

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Smoking in people with mental health conditions is higher than the general population. Stopping smoking will reduce your risk of developing heart disease and other serious health problems. Stopping smoking is more successful if you plan ahead. Speak to your GP or pharmacist about the support and set a date to stop smoking.

Calculate how much money you are saving by not smoking and use this to reward yourself.

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LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 141

Metropolitan Insulation bespoke solutions for thermal and acoustic insulation

Three generations,James with his mum and son.

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etropolitan Insulation have had their HQ in Tarporley,Cheshire for 12 years now. For a company that started the year of the crash,they’ve survived and thrived. They service commercial and domestic clients throughout the U.K. for thermal and acoustic insulation.

During this period they have dealt with United Utilities, Cemex and the M.O.D. Most recently they soundproofed H and M s HQ in Edinburgh.

James Barker started the company in 2008 with 2 partners” Alan and Arun helped with their different skills to get the company up and running. We wanted to specialise in sprayed and injected high performance thermal insulation.

But when we started in London market I realised that there was a demand for acoustic soundproofing. So we added the discipline to our portfolio. Tragically we lost Alan to cancer, soon after Arun left amicably.” What Metropolitan offer

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customers is bespoke solutions to their requirements, James again, “ We service all our inquiries within the day they call us. Sometimes even within the hour. We survey projects once we’ve established the needs of client . We design and build,supply and fit or just advise,basically whatever s needed. Our objective is to deliver fast,reliable and high performance solutions throughout the U.K. Due to our extensive network we can help from Lands End to John O Groats” Metropolitan’s speciality is the supply and fit of polyurethane high performance thermal insulation.

They can give Green/Eco friendly high u values and weatherproofing for your home,workplace or your clients portfolios.

Tel: 0800 028 4042 www.metropolitaninsulation.co.uk enquiries@metropolitaninsulation.co.uk www.lancmag.com

Above: Internal Wall Insulation Weatherproofing for older commercial buildings.

Metropolitan’s spray and coat system offers the industrial/ commercial sector a fast and highly effective alternative to fibreglass or demolition of older structures. This involves spraying polyurethane insulation after preparation,then coating with an elastomer coating. This provides BBA Class 1 Rated system that weatherproofs and insulates warehouse and factory roofs. It can extend the lifespan by 20 years.

They also offer maintenance contracts.

Internal Wall Insulation Where a new build or conversion is being designed,low density open cell insulation is a superior alternative to traditional methods. It’s airtight but breathable and can be designed to your u value requirements. We calculate the depth required by substrate to be applied to. Whether it’s a new build development or a marine installation,we can install 300 metres of highly effective thermal insulation for life.

James spent time with the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers before a journey that took him into Financial Services and Property Renewal. “ I’ve always been interested in Scandinavia and their attitude to insulation.

In a world where energy costs are always increasing and Eco friendly considerations a priority,carbon emissions are something we can all help with. We can show factory owners to homeowners ways to improve their heat saving and therefore cut their bills.”

Flat Roof Weatherproofing Here we see a completed flat roof system from Metropolitan. On older flat roof structures it’s frequently possible to overcoat and weatherproof without replacement or fibreglass with our system. A coating of polyurethane and elastomeric membrane can extend the lifespan by years.

Because it’s spray applied there are no breaks or joints. It s durability and flexibility follows the existing contours of surface. As an effective long lasting solution this system has won many admirers from architects to developers.

Metropolitan as you can tell offers everything you could possibly need in terms of thermal and soundproofing insulation. We aim to give you best advice and work with integrity. If we can’t help we will tell you,though in most cases we can. www.lancmag.com

Above: Domestic Insulation

Above: Internal Wall Insulation Left: Flat roof system Domestic Insulation This photo shows the difference between old fibreglass insulation on the loft floor, prior to removal. And the new low density open cell high performance insulation sprayed under the roof. Most people aren’t aware of Regulations now which mean you need to put 300 mm of traditional fibreglass on loft floor to meet requirements. This means the floor is a sea of material and unusable. Whereas the low density open cell gives you a clean cozy and usable loft.

In conclusion a few words from James. “ We started in the worst possible year in 2008 with the Crash and this year s extraordinary events have been challenging for us all.

But we survived and thrived back then and we will again.

Everybody’s had challenges including Metropolitan ,the focus is to come back better. My team are renowned for fast response and cost efficient service” LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 143

Aiming Higher

You can donate to Aiming Higher using the following methods Website | www.aiminghighercharity.org.uk/get-involved/donate/ Just Giving & PayPal | Found on Aiming Higher website

Post | Aiming Higher. 231 – 233 Church Street, Blackpool, Lancashire FY1 3PB. Please ring 01253 206447 further information

We all have a better idea of what it feels like to be cut off from the world now. We’ve all felt isolated and “stuck” since the outbreak of Covid-19 has many of us staying at home and social distancing. For lots of the families that Aiming Higher support this is not something new.

Vitalka Wilson speaking to Aiming Higher’s Development Project Manager Amy Gunniss

The team from Headstart

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iming Higher for Disabled Children & their Families is a Blackpool based charity that supports hundreds of local children and their families. One of the most common issues mentioned when families first make contact with us is one of isolation. Some parents struggle to get out and about because of their child’s physical needs or a need for access to equipment and medical supplies, others have issues keeping their children safe because they don’t understand the dangers of things like traffic, heights, or getting lost. Some others, whose children might have a less visible disability, feel self conscious and as if other areone judging Development Worker Darrenpeople Foy with of the their child’s Trustee Andrew Wareing with Mayor of Fylde Councillor Angela information boards the to event Jaques and Deputy mayor Richard Redcliffe. behaviour or theirfrom ability manage.

Aiming Higher helps to give these families the support they providing activities and days out where patron Natalie Christopher, trustees iming Higher for Disabled need to minimise isolation with a fantastic support team, a families can meet others in similar John Child, Hilary Ainge, Andrew Children & their Families is a range of activities for the whole family and a way to make circumstances.

Wareing, Anthea Dawson, Alison Blackpool based charity that friends with others in similar circumstances. Our team of The team recently held a welcome Gilmorefamily and Norry as well supports hundreds of local children and resources to help manage life inAscroft lockdown and as family support workers will provide help to ensure families feel day for other professionals and local professionals from the Blackpool and their families. The charity supports perhaps most importantly, providing emotional support SEND and more confident and have everything they need to support their businesses to explain more about what voiceteam, Headstart, Portage service, families and creates happy memories an understanding on the phone. Aiming Higher areBetter also individual needs and stressors.

Aiming Higher offer and how they can of Start,Advocacy local for children with life limiting and bringing a moment happiness with service, a delivery of special one of our During the current covid-19 lockdown, life has been made help. The event was well attended and schools and more. complex conditions. Raising a disabled self-care packs. even more complicated for Aiming Higher’s families. Lots gave all who visited the chance to see Vitalka local resident child can be a wonderful experience, Due to generous donations andWilson, grants,awe have been able of the children are in high risk categories. Respite care has the newly refurbished centre and its who is doing a parachute jump the however it can also be lonely, isolating to provide some toys and activities to keep the childrenfor happy stopped for most, the children are at home and parents are sensory room. charity also came along to learn more. and overpowering. The friendly and and now thanks to a grant from the Respite Association, we finding themselves having to manage the children’s needs 24-7, In attendance were are the able Mayor If you’d to support charity professional team at Aiming Higher are to help the parents too.like While raising athe child withand a whilst often looking after their siblings too. Add in additional of Wyre Councillor Ann Turner reward Vitalka for his bravery you can always close at hand and able to support disability can be incredibly rewarding, it can also be exhausting financial issues and their own concerns about their children’s and Mayoress Councillor so by visiting his justgiving page it the families registered with them, easing andAndrea without the respitedo provided by school or direct support health as well as their own and it is an incredibly difficult time.

Kay; Mayor of Fylde, can Councillor at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ them through any anxieties. The service seem never ending. The self-care packs for parents contain Our team at Aiming Higher are working hard to ease Angela Jaques and Deputy mayor provided varies with each families’ a variety of simple giftsvitalka-wilson1 to help them take a little time for these stresses. The family support team are checking in with needs – from supporting families to Richard Redcliffe withthemselves. the Mayor These of include adult colouring books, flower seeds, parents and helping them complete applications for universal attend appointments at school, hospital, Blackpool’s representative Councillor puzzles, board games, candles, face masks and bath bombs. credit where jobs have been lost, giving them coping strategies social services, benefits and housing to Kim Critchley, along with the charity’s

A

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These are just a few of the responses we have had back from families, showing how grateful they are for the support we provide; • “The care package was lovely, full of loads of lovely items to take time for myself. There are loads of treats and things to do, I especially liked the coloring relaxation book and felt pens. Just want to say a massive thank you to Aiming higher and the Respite Association for thinking about the parents in this lockdown. X” • “Wow we’re so overwhelmed by your support that I’ve just cried. I just wanted to hug the lady that delivered it!! Every single one of you has been absolutely incredible to us all. The kiddies were amazed, they could not believe the amount of treats and food we’d received.

We’re really thankful. Again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. All our love xxxxx” • “Aww thank you. Was such a lovely surprise after a down week. Perked me right up. Humbled.

Thank you. x” • “Hiya I just wanted to say a massive thank you to Aiming Higher. The food parcel and the extra treats you brought for the kids were amazing. From the bottom of our hearts thank you so much and when this is all over we will as a family all be paying this forward. Again thank you so much xxx”

Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, a lot of the charity’s usual fundraising activities have had to cease and big events like the annual fundraising ball have been cancelled. Aiming Higher, like lots of charities, are in need of your help to be able to sustain the levels of support families need at this difficult time.

If you are able to help in any way please contact Aiming Higher or make a donation.

Thank you. www.lancmag.com

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A mock-up of the Tempest putting Typhoons in the background

TEMPEST –

A Vision of the Future from Lancashire

By Andrew Harris

T

he British Gloster Meteor first flew in March 1943 and was the first jet fighter produced by the allies. Using jet engines invented by Britain’s Sir Frank Whittle it was underpowered but a groundbreaking concept in the sky. Later that year the De Havilland Vampire took to the sky and these two first generation jet fighters pioneered the jet age for the military. More than 2,000 were produced and, with the later Hawker Hunter, served many air forces well into the 1950s.

The English Electric Lightning first flew in August 1954 and was a gigantic leap forward. It was also the start of Lancashire dominating the UK jet fighter industry. The Lightning was probably the most iconic British jet fighter ever and could achieve Mach 2 - twice the speed of sound - but not for long!

It entered service with the RAF in 1960 and was steadily improved. It was made in Lancashire and was operational until 1988. It is the best example of a second generation jet fighter.

The third age of jet fighters was dominated by the McDonnell Douglas Phantom made in the USA but the Anglo-French Jaguar kept Britain involved and expert as new technologies developed.

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From the mid-1970s the fourth generation of jet fighters saw the UK and Lancashire become major players again albeit on the back of international partnerships because of the huge costs of developing and producing some of the most advanced engineering in the world. The Tornado first flew in August 1974. The F1 version was a single-role fighter but the GR4 became multi-role which was essential as a way of making the best use of an aircraft that was incredibly expensive to produce and operate. After sterling service it was retired by the RAF last year but still serves the air forces of Germany and Italy where it is being eclipsed by the Typhoon which first flew 20 years later – in 1994. The Typhoon is still a fourth generation fighter but has become multi-role and is expected to serve until 2040. It is assembled in Warton where many upgrades have been achieved. So why the need for a fifth generation of jet fighters?

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The iconic Preston-built English Electric Lightning

Jet fighters have become flying computers which are more potent but also more vulnerable to new weaponry. The response was ‘stealth’ technology which makes a fighter hard to see. But this comes at a huge cost so most NATO countries agreed to jointly procure the F35 Joint Strike Fighter which offers three versions but with much commonality. Christened the Lightning 2, the F35A operates from airfields, the F35B is short take-off and vertical landing and the F35C is for aircraft carriers with catapults. The UK is the only level-one partner producing 15% of the F35 by value – including the tail section built with amazing technology by BAE Systems at Samlesbury in Lancashire. With expected orders for more than 3,000 aircraft - including 138 for the UK - this is a futuristic business.

But where next?

As threats and capabilities evolve the future need – after 2035 - is for a sixth generation fighter which will be stealthy, able to fly unmanned, use swarming technology to control drones, incorporate artificial intelligence deep learning, possess

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directed-energy weapons and have a virtual cockpit which dispenses with conventional instruments and switches. The ‘virtual cockpit ‘ will be shown on the pilot’s helmet-mounted display. If some of these terms mean little to you, dear reader, it illustrates just how futuristic is this concept – called Tempest.

It is being developed by Team Tempest - BAE Systems in Lancashire in partnership with Rolls Royce, Leonardo in the UK and MBDA UK – all reporting to the Rapid Capabilities Office of the Royal Air Force. These partners are expert in aircraft design, engines, defence electronics and weapons technology respectively.

The Tempest is also expected to feature a Co-operative Engagement Capability which is the ability to co-operate on the battlefield by sharing sensor data and messages to coordinate attack or defence.

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The UK Ministry of Defence explain that “The UK’s new Tempest fighter jet will be a decidedly British affair. It will be developed almost exclusively on British soil. The Brits hope the airplane will exhibit the country’s military prowess even as it exits the European Union and as its traditional defence partners and long-time ally the Unites Sates backs into isolationism.”

During the unveiling of a mock-up of the Tempest the UK Defence Secretary said “We are entering a dangerous new era of warfare so our main focus has to be the future. Today we offer a glimpse of tomorrow. The Ministry has devoted $2.6 billion to developing the Tempest concept through 2025 and will then decide whether to roll out the final aircraft by 2035.”

The Tempest project is currently a multi-national project between the UK, Sweden and Italy – hence the involvement of Leonardo and MBDA and two other Italian companies.

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The amazing Typhoons flying from 1994-2040.

Image courtesy of the MoD.

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The Tempest concept explained.

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Team Tempest says it has identified the opportunity to adopt a completely new way of working. Collaborating with key stakeholders from the outset enables the project to unlock a diverse, skilled and experience workforce, reducing barriers to development and thereby delivering a programme capable of moving quickly and meeting milestones in record time. We shall see!

The last word goes to BAE Systems Chief Executive Charles Woodburn who says “The UK’s combat air capability, built by generations of committed and highly skilled people through a century-long partnership between the RAF and industry, is admired the world over. The UK Government’s Combat Air Strategy is a powerful statement of intent to invest in next generation combat air systems. We’re proud to play a key role in this important programme with our world leading technology, capability and skills which will contribute to the UK’s defence and security for decades to come.”

The Tempest project is exciting and hugely important to NATO, the United Kingdom, North West England and Lancashire. It is crucial to the success of our aircraft industry and to it remaining world-class. We wish it well and will report on its progress in the years ahead.

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Andrew E. Harris is grateful to BAE Systems for the information and images (unless otherwise attributed) provided in support of this article.

Our previous aviation articles about BAE Systems and the Tornado can be seen at www.andreweharris.co.uk

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A catch up with Peter Rutt Our monthly coloumn by Peter Rutt.

P

H

art begin-eth 1 of 3. Regular ere today’sreaders historywill lesson know I love weird and wacky (written in March). Pandemics stories, even as if long they as arewe nothave. true. have been around So imagine my pleasure when I came Here are a few. Plague of Athens across the sensation of alleged time slips mainly typhoid/bacteria (430 B.C in Liverpool. to 426 B.C), Antonine plague with measles/smallpox the main Various people claim theyreason slipped(165 A.D plague of 1950’s Cyprian back to in 180 time,A.D), usually to the or brought about illnesses to Ebola 1960’s. One claimed heakin slipped back to virus A.D-256 early (251 1900’s.

He saidA.D), as heplague walkedofdown Justinian (541 the first Bold Street theA.D-750 sky wentA.D), very dark and record of been Bubonic what had thatplague. year in Europe’s the decade population reduced by to 50%. of the 1990’s changed earlyThen 1900’s came thebyBlack Death in judging the fashion he 1331, spied.seventy Also five to twowere hundred million people the shops old fashioned.

Gonewere estimated to have day diedstores as a result.

One were the modern as were closer to day home sawreplaced the greatbyplague modern cars, horse of London from 1665 thethere great drawn carriages.

Therebefore was air fire following was wiped sound that and one if heout feltthe more confident year but not before claiming the lives of he would have interacted with a person. around hundred people.

Imagineone whipping outthousand your smartphone Cholera pandemicfrom fromthe 1817 started in to show someone early 1900’s!

Bengal in excess onephotos hundred Or go akilling step further andoftake thousand people and What reached China or film what you see. would your too by 1824.

Further cholera outbreaks phone record? followed Therein is 1826-1837, the story of 1846-1860, a man who 1863-1875, 1899-1923 walked near1881-1896, to Bold Street and he and 1961-1975 and ahardly a country alleges as he turned corner, was was by end. one or of faceduntouched with a dead Anmore old wall these.

And interspersed with varying that wasn’t there the previous day had degrees influenza.Like Thethe third plague suddenlyofappeared. previous pandemic started in China 1855 and man he said the sky became suddenly spread to India and USA among darker prior to this obstacle beingother there. countries.

Spanishthe fluconstruction that started in He even touched and 2018 the end of the Great War back it wasatsolid.

Confused, he headed infected fivecame. hundred million people the way he worldwide causing twenty to one Most of the stories centre on a hundred million deaths, even in very period of 1993-1997 apart from the remote islands up to 1920. one in the next paragraph. They may coronaviruses were firstat wellHuman be Urban Tales and tall ones discovered the late 1960s.

The But earliest that. But it in is thought provoking. ones were an infectious therediscovered are three particular stories I will bronchitis centre on. virus in chickens and two in human patients with the common cold.

This one allegedly occurred in 2006 Other members of this family have when a lad called Sean admitted he since been identified, including SARSshoplifted an item and ran out of the CoV in 2003, HCoV NL63 in 2004, shop pursued by a Security Guard. As HKU1 in 2005, MERS-CoV in 2012, Sean got to a corner (and the sky went and SARS-CoV-2 in 2019. Most of dark) he turned and carried on running these have involved serious respiratory but when he looked back he noticed tract infections. www.lancmag.com

The virus was first thought to have passed from bats to animals then to humans. In Wuhan, the Institute of Virology and the Centre for Disease Control andwas Prevention his pursuer nowherewere to beactively seen. working viruses.

But a little Relieved,on hebat stopped and took in his unnervingly Novemberwas last wearing year, the surroundings.inEverybody institute put up job posting asking clothes from thea1960’s and cars were for students to Starting help study old postgraduate fashioned from this era. the coronavirus in humans bats. to worry he brought out hisand modern The description in the advertisement mobile phone, but it displayed no explained they were particularly signal. As he walked back past the store interested that he robbed in hemolecular noticed it mechanisms wasn’t the one let lie dormant for aahead long he coronavirus entered earlier.

As he looked time without symptoms. he could see the modern world. When he The took National a look behind himScience it was still Natural the 1960’s. Frightened by hisfor experience Foundation of China called he caught (modern) to get away. the possiblea origins of bus 2019-nCoV The SecurityShortly Guard after that chased himwas coronavirus. that study asserted the thatcommunist he was onlygovernment a few pacesdid released behind thepull thief butthe as internet he got towith that its best to it off corner, the lad had vanished.

He was such vigour, they have now created a bemusedofbysilence. this. blanket

Listening to a couple of NHS staff, one a surgeon (not on public platform), they are preparing for the virus to last a year in total. Also deliveries to public and stories public appear event arenas Thehouses other two in (not including sport) are planned for to May’s edition and a plausible answer December at the But earliest. holidays the conundrum. goingAnd back to an abroad can’t happen the virus has earlier point, which isuntil of interaction, been quashed worldwide.

I pondered on this. If you talk to someone a long ago eracome and to the But thefrom human spirit has influence them topeople take a doing different course fore with various their bit. to one they did take, Raising hugehistorically sums of money for would the that have on the here and NHS and ramifications other causes that may bring now? Also if youascollect an itemBelief from about a vaccine trials begin. thethe 1950’s, does it travel you back in human race raises with the spirit once to theaspresent more selflessday? acts are carried out in order to make sure no vulnerable person is left out. One thing is for sure, life is and will be different. A brave new world order?

LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 151

William Henry Suttor who led a civilian posse to join the police to chase Ralph Entwistle and his followers in 1830 (shown here in 1891, National Library of Australia)

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Mr Entwistle’s army The story of the ribbon boys Words: John Wright

A more realistic painting of Bathurst, New South Wales at the time Ralph Entwistle lived there, by Joseph Backler c1847-57 (State Library of NSW)

W

hen they order a priest before your trial even begins you know you’re in trouble. It was being at the wrong end of a misunderstanding and plain nastiness by others that changed Mr Ralph Entwistle from a law-abiding man, going about his business one sunny day in New South Wales, to a man with an army.

For no reason other than to right a wrong, he began a war he knew he couldn’t win; but he began it anyway.

They called his gang ‘the ribbon boys’ because the Bolton man they rode with had white ribbons flying from his hat.

And when the going got tough, he gave them all the choice of quitting or riding into hell with him. 13 picked hell.

Ralph was born in Bolton, Lancashire in 1805. He learned to read and became a brickmaker, and at 22 in 1827 was sentenced at the Lancaster Assizes to transportation to Australia for life for stealing clothes, and sailed with 188 other convicts from England

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on the John on July 18, 1827, bound for Port Jackson (Sydney), New South Wales on November 25. On arrival he was assigned to an English settler called John Liscombe, 30, who was also clerk of the court in Bathurst, 120 miles north-west of Sydney on the western edge of the Great Dividing Range; and he lived with Liscombe, his wife and child and worked in Bathurst as a brickmaker.

“Entwistle soon became well liked and respected, and Liscombe recommended him for a ticket-of-leave, which would give him freedom of sorts and allow him to work for wages,” Al Grassby and Marji Hill wrote in Six Australian Battlefields. This was a rare concession for a convict after such a short time in the colony and he had earned it by his honesty. In 1829 Liscombe trusted Ralph and another convict to take a bullock dray of wool to Sydney and return with supplies. This journey would take them over rough

tracks and take them several weeks.

It was on November 5 when the fireworks started, but it wasn’t at night.

On their first day the two men camped by the Macquarie River. “It was a hot day and they decided to strip off and have a swim. As they dived in, Governor Ralph Darling with a military escort came into sight.”

Darling didn’t see the two men who by now were hiding from them in the water; nor did the women in his entourage. By hiding, the two men had been discretion itself. But, as the party rode past, a Lieutenant Thomas Evernden did. Bathurst’s Police Magistrate and Superintendent of Police “was, or thought he ought to have been, shocked at what he had seen,” wrote 25-year-old William Henry Suttor, overseer of his landowner father’s farm nearby and organiser of a civilian posse later to join the police.

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He sent soldiers to take Ralph and his friend to Bathurst to be flogged.

Despite being within their rights to be there cooling off after their first long haul, they received 50 lashes each and Ralph’s ticket-of-leave was cancelled.

It was one of many injustices during the transportation era, but for Ralph it was one too many. Evernden had a reputation for bullying assigned farmhands, as did his overseer Greenwood.

Rightly or wrongly, Ralph decided not to take this kind of thing any more. It didn’t help knowing that his employer could so easily have vouched for him the moment it happened, especially given his position in the Bathurst court. But he didn’t.

After the flogging, Ralph went straight round to Liscombe’s farm and stole weapons and ammunition. Six other men there with similar grievances joined him. Whether he knew it or not, it was the beginning of Mr Entwistle’s army. He went from farm to farm looking for supporters and they became known as the Ribbon Gang. Soon he had 50 or 60 men with him; and when another similar group of disgruntled convicts joined him, the numbers grew to 124.

The man they were ultimately defying was the other Ralph by the river who’d been dishonourable in the first place, Governor Darling. This ex-colleague of the Duke of Wellington

had a “reputation of being cold and humourless,” Cedric Fowler wrote in the Illustrated History of New South Wales. “To increasing demands for basic British institutions such as trial by jury, Darling turned a deaf ear.” The press, “freed from official control,” challenged him about it; “it irritated the Governor very much,” Fowler wrote.

The public had also seen the spiteful side to Darling when he punished two soldiers, Sudds and Thompson who, to be free of the army, committed a minor offence thinking that they had simply be kicked out.

As well as sentencing them to seven years in a chain gang before re-joining the army, he had them “publicly

The Plains, Bathurst, a romanticised watercolour of the Bathurst area where Ralph Entwistle lived (State Library of New South Wales) 154

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View of Bathurst, New South Wales c1870 (National Library of Australia)

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Portrait of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales Francis Forbes, to be knighted in 1837 (Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales)

disgraced, loaded with chains and thrown into gaol. The sickly Stubbs was dead within a few days,” Fowler wrote. “The emancipist press blazed with outrage that a dying man should be so loaded with fetters that he could neither rest nor sleep.”

The public was behind Ralph Entwistle, the Sydney Gazette on October 7 the following year reporting that the gang “marched, on horse and foot, to Mr Icely’s place, where they feasted, but did not do any great injury.” At the next property, they took some horses and were “well armed and resolute, but no outrage, only collecting food and ammunition.”

The turning point came for the bushrangers when they turned up at Lieutenant Evernden’s property. But only Greenwood was there. His farm-hands joined the gang, but Greenwood challenged them and was shot dead. This was the moment Ralph Entwistle knew he had been seen as crossing the line, and allowed reluctant gang members to leave.

They weren’t yet quite down to the Dirty Dozen, many of them Irish, when Major Donald Macpherson, commander of the Bathurst garrison sent troops out after them; but Ralph’s men drove them away anyway. The fighting went on for weeks, and despite dwindling resources, the bushrangers fought off yet another contingent that was sent after them.

Finally, it took fresh troops brought specially from the 39th Regiment in Sydney to knock over Ralph’s starving and exhausted men. Ten survivors, including Ralph himself, were taken prisoner and on October 30, 1830 subjected to a show trial in Bathurst, led by Australia’s first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Sir Francis Forbes. All eight jurymen were men the gang had fought and defeated.

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ALTERNATIVE PIC OF FRANCIS FORBES, shown here in 1852, when he was Chief Justice Sir Francis Forbes, drawn by Charles Rodius.

(State Library of New South Wales)

given its uncanny resemblance to a studio set in a Clint Eastwood movie.

Three days later, Ralph and his men were all hanged in the main street of Bathurst, on November 2, on the site of what is today known as Ribbon Gang Lane, probably an appropriate place for the end of it all, given its uncanny resemblance to a studio set in a Clint Eastwood movie.

And today a street nearby, Ribbon Gang Lane, ensures that the brave Bolton man will never be forgotten. www.lancmag.com

Ralph Darling, Governor of New South Wales, 1825-31 (State Library of Queensland, Australia)

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Dogs a danger to nesting birds Dog owners are being asked to keep their pets under control during the nesting season.

Inquisitive young male roe deer by Alan Wright

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he Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside are concerned that dogs will be causing distress for nesting birds and wild mammals if they are allowed to run free.

The gruesome discovery of a lapwing and its chicks which had been savaged to death by a dog on Little Woolden Moss, in Salford, has led to the calls for more vigilance from dog owners.

Wildlife Trust Campaigns Manager Alan Wright said: “The lapwing and its chicks were killed by a dog which had disturbed their nest. Imagine the distress that the parent lapwing went through as it tried to defend its chicks?

“Only last year, I watched in horror as a pair of lurchers chased a young roe deer through woodland. The fawn was in complete panic and the dogs, which were pets, were letting out frenzied barks as they chased it. It was a horrible thing to witness.”

Young wild birds and animals are particularly vulnerable to attack, many only a couple of days or weeks old in spring.

Ground nesting birds, like lapwing, skylark and curlew may only be metres away from popular paths on moorland and in woods.

Many of these attacks are not deliberate and are just carelessness on the part of the owners.

Alan said: “I am sure that 99 per cent of dog owners do not intend their dogs to harass wildlife but, at this time of year, you need to be in control of your pet. In many cases that would mean putting your dog on a lead.

Dogs should be on leads

“My dog never strays far from me on a walk and stays on paths, so he is under control. If I feel there is a situation where he – or another dog – may misbehave, I immediately put him on his lead.

“Every day I see owners out with their dogs, allowing their pets to tear off into woodland or onto moors. Sometimes they do not see them for minutes on end which, in the nesting season, is not good news for creatures seeking cover nearby.”

It is important that nesting birds are undisturbed during spring and summer so their chicks have time to grow and look after themselves.

The lockdown has meant many birds have been left alone on moorland and in woods for weeks, so it could mean a bumper year for wildlife, but that is no reason for complacency according to conservationists.

Alan said: “We are getting reports of a lot of wildlife getting closer to people as they are not used to seeing us this year, but that could mean danger if your dog is one that has not been trained to chase wild animals. Let’s not forget the lambs that are around at the moment.

“As always, it comes down to the owner being in control of their pet. As an owner your pet cannot do anything wrong in your eyes until it savages a bird or another dog, so you must know your dog and keep it under control.”

Dogs must be on leads on all of the open-access nature reserves belonging to the Wildlife Trust. Dogs are not allowed on the Brockholes Nature Reserve, except for the Guild Wheel path, but they must be on leads.

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is dedicated to the protection and promotion of the wildlife in Lancashire, seven boroughs of Greater Manchester and four of Merseyside, all lying north of the River Mersey. It manages around 40 nature reserves and 20 Local Nature Reserves covering acres of woodland, wetland, upland and meadow. The Trust has 27,000 members, and over 1,200 volunteers.

To become a member of the Trust go to the website at www.lancswt.org.uk or call 01772 324129. For more information about Cheshire Wildlife Trust call 01948 820728 or go to cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk.

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Around the region Blackpool’s summer air show cancelled

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lackpool’s annual summer air show has been cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The free event, which attracts up to 100,000 visitors, was due to be staged on the Tower Festival Headland over the weekend of August 8 and 9.

Dates for the 2021 Blackpool Air Show have already been scheduled for the weekend of August 7 and 8.

Cllr Gillian Campbell, Cabinet Member for Tourism & Culture for Blackpool Council, said: “It is with a heavy heart that we are cancelling one of Blackpool’s biggest and most popular events.

“Over the past few weeks we have been closely monitoring Government guidance around social distancing and public gatherings to determine whether the event could go ahead in some way.

“It is now clear that the logistical implications of staging an event of this size under the current restrictions, a number of which are likely to remain in place for some time, mean that it cannot go ahead this summer.

“The health and safety of our visitors and all those involved in the Air Show is of paramount importance. So too is the prevention of additional strain on the

Local artist paints Captain Tom My name is Emma Metcalf, I am a local artist and I have created a painting of Captain Tom Moore and thought it might be of interest to you, he is such an inspiration to me and many others and with VE day approaching I thought it might make a nice feature.

I have my drawings if you would like to see them, I originally drew captain Tom to make him a birthday card, which I did and sent him. I then decided to draw him as a young man too.

My sister is a paramedic so the fundraising he has done for the Nhs is close to my heart.

emergency services who support our events programme each year at a time when they are helping to lead the UK-wide response to the pandemic.

“It is, of course, disappointing to have to cancel such an important part of our summer programme, but we are working closely with our partners to ensure that our resort emerges from this crisis with a strong and vibrant tourism offer.

“We look forward to welcoming back our visitors when it is safe to do so.”

Southport Air Show and British Musical Fireworks Championship Cancelled due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) situation in the UK

Due to the ongoing coronavirus (Covid-19) situation in the UK and the impact that it is having, Sefton Council has been forced to take the difficult decision to cancel the Southport Air Show (12 - 13 September) and the British Musical Fireworks Championship (25 – 27 September).

The events will return next year (2021).

Each year these flagship events attract visitors from all over the UK and generate millions of pounds for Sefton’s local economy, supporting local businesses.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Labour Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, says, “Every autumn we welcome thousands of people to Southport to enjoy these two major events in the town; the Southport Air Show and the British Musical Fireworks Championship. However, as the latest government guidance on the next stages of its Covid-19 response indicate, it will not be possible or responsible for large-scale events to take place.

“We understand this news will disappoint a lot of people, but we all have to work hard to protect the health and the wellbeing of our communities, and the safety of everyone involved including visitors, exhibitors, traders, staff, contractors, and the many more who

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contribute and play a part in delivering these much-loved events. These are the factors at the very forefront of our decision. We look forward to welcoming everyone again next year.” Dates for some of the key events taking place in Southport in 2021: Southport Food and Drink Festival Friday 4 to Sunday 6 June 2021.

Southport Air Show Saturday 3 July to Sunday 4 July 2021.

British Musical Fireworks Championship Friday 24 September to Sunday 26 September 2021.

With lots of vast beaches and park space, Visit Southport has been urging people to continue to follow UK government advice. When it is again safe to do so it will ensure a warm welcome awaits visitors to Southport. To find out more about Visit Southport’s response to the coronavirus (Covid-19) and to receive updates visit www.visitsouthport. com/coronavirus

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Keeping you up to date with events around the North West Nature festival goes virtual #MFoN was due to hold its second event at Heaton Park on Sunday, June 28, after more than 7,000 people turn up at last year’s event.

Festival Committee Chairman Alan Wright said: “There is still some time to go and some Covid-19 restrictions may have been lifted by the end of June, but there is a warning that the virus may lead to more restrictions over the rest of the year.

“Partners discussed the situation and felt that #MFoN may be a risk to the health of our visitors. That was a risk we were not prepared to take.”

Instead the #MFoN will go online with partners creating virtual events and activities that visitors can do in their own homes and gardens.

Alan said: “We will have a string of activities that will engage people the beautiful wildlife they have around them. Families will be able to make lot of interesting nature-themed goodies and people will be able to learn more about the wildlife they see every day.”

Partners in #MFoN 2019 were the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, RSPB, National Trust, City of Trees, The Conservation Volunteers, Royal Horticultural Society, Canal & River Trust, Let’s Ride North West, Action for Conservation,

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he Manchester Festival of Nature has been cancelled because of safety reasons concerning the Coronavirus.

Sustrans, Chester Zoo, Friends of the Earth, Heaton Park Beekeepeers, Manchester Museum, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester City Council and its Heaton Park team. Butterfly Conservation have come on board for #MFoN 2020.

Alan said: “A virtual event will keep #MFoN in people’s minds and we can start early preparations for a bigger, better festival in 2021. The festival aims to get people involved in the natural world on their doorsteps and to spread the word about the astonishing variety of wildlife that we have in Manchester.”

The festival committee is seeking funding at all levels for the next event. If anyone is interested in supporting #MFoN 2021 they can contact Alan at awright’lancswt.org.uk.

Blackpool Soroptimists elect new President

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ike many service and social organisations, local women’s group, Blackpool Soroptimists suspended all activities through the Covid-19 lockdown, but have been busy behind the scenes.

Their April Annual General Meeting was held as planned, all the business taking place by e.mail, the officers and programme of fundraising and social events for the coming year now being in place and ready to roll when restrictions are lifted, meanwhile communicating and using virtual technology to keep in touch.

Retiring from office after eight years as club secretary, Su Gordon made her final duty the administration and coordination of the electronic AGM, which all went without a hitch. The president’s charity, Plan International (plan-uk.org) which works in 75 countries to advance children’s rights and equality for girls, keeping them safe, has benefitted from funds raised by a full diary of events. Outgoing President Catherine Shevlin thanked members and officers for

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maintaining communications throughout this difficult period which endorsed the strength and purpose of the club. Catherine and Su were warmly thanked for a successful year.

Janet Goodwin is the newly elected club president and her charities for the coming year will embrace Blue Skies Fund for Blackpool Teaching Hospitals and, further afield, Mercy Ships (mercyships.org.uk) providing medical care for the underserved in Africa. Janet has worked as a management consultant in dentistry since 1971 in community, education and governance roles and has also worked in a voluntary capacity, travelling with Mercy Ships.

The role of the new incoming Club Secretary is taken by Pam Swain who also works in the field of dentistry.

Soroptimist International of Blackpool & District works locally, nationally and internationally to transform the lives of women and girls, part of a global volunteer movement with 80,000 members in 124 countries. For further information, please contact Soroptimist International Blackpool and District website, Twitter or Facebook or e.mail siblackpoolmembership@gmail.com

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Over seven million people in the UK are living with heart or circulatory disease.

By eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of physical activity, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, you can reduce your risk of heart disease.

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip,

by Dr Helen Flaherty, Head of Health Promotion at Heart Research UK 162

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A healthy diet can improve your blood pressure and cholesterol as well as helping you to manage your weight.

Heart Research UK have some tips to help you reduce your risk of heart disease by improving your diet. www.lancmag.com

Heart healthy diet How much physical activity is recommended?

A diet that is high in fibre can reduce your risk of heart disease. Good sources of fibre include fruit and vegetables, beans and pulses and wholegrain foods, such as granary bread, brown rice and wholemeal pasta. Try choosing a wholegrain breakfast cereal, such as muesli, porridge or bran flakes and add some chopped fruit or berries.

Choose healthier fats and oils Fats and oils are high in calories and it is important not to consume too much. Different types of fat are present in foods. Saturated and trans fats can increase your cholesterol and your risk of heart disease. It is recommended that saturated and trans fats are swapped for small amounts of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

Saturated fats Eating too much can increase your cholesterol and your risk of heart disease.

Examples include • Fatty meats • Hard cheeses • Butter • Cream • Coconut oil www.lancmag.com

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Polyunsaturated fats Small amounts are recommended for maintaining healthy cholesterol levels and providing essential fatty acids.

Examples: Oily fish (e.g. salmon) • Walnuts • Seeds (e.g. flaxseeds and sesame seeds)Trans fats Eating too much can increase your cholesterol and your risk of heart disease.

Examples: Hard margarines • Fried food • Biscuits and cakes Monounsaturated fats Small amounts are recommended for maintaining healthy cholesterol levels.

Examples: Rapeseed oil • Olives and olive oil • Nuts Avocados

with coconut oil, you could try switching to rapeseed oil.

Reduce your salt consumption Too much salt in your diet can increase your blood pressure and your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Try swapping snacks that are high in salt, such as crisps and salted nuts, for healthier snacks, such as fruit, carrot sticks and hummus, popcorn and unsalted nuts and seeds. Read the food labels to identify snacks that are lower in salt. Try to cut back on the amount of salt used in cooking gradually over time and increase the amount of herbs and spices to add more flavour.

Examples of some heart healthy recipes can be found on our website, at heartresearch.org.uk/ recipes

If you eat meat, you could swap fatty meats for fish and lean meats, such as chicken (without skin), as well as cutting away visible fat from fatty meats, such as bacon.

Coconut oil is often promoted as a health food, however, it is high in saturated fat and can increase your cholesterol. If you currently cook 164

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Spring Is Wedding Season

Tailoring From Giorgio Armani Ted Baker & Paul Smith

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Colour and Style Our new section on Colour and Style with Sarah Harris from ‘Colour Me Beautiful’

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’m Sarah Harris and I’m a Colour and Style Consultant who trained with Colour Me Beautiful the world’s leading Image consultants.

My background is in fashion and after leaving school at 16 I travelled to London to work as a Fashion/photographic model, I enjoyed the life and it allowed me to travel the world, during my career I also worked in wholesale/retail within the fashion industry. I learnt all about fabrics, business, international companies and trying all those clothes on – the quality, cut and fabric. I took a break from the business when I married and had our two children. I retrained as an Image consultant with Colour Me Beautiful who have been changing the lives of women and men for over 35 years.

I’d like to inspire you with Colour, Style and skincare tips and every month I’m hoping to give you an interesting read. If there is something that you would like to know about please email me and I will do my best to help. Email: sarah@ sarahharrisstyle.co.uk

I hope that you and your family are staying safe and that this article will take you away from the stresses of the past months for a while and inspire you to spend a little time on yourself.

the fun part, I created a capsule wardrobe. If you are going to shop your wardrobe you need to first de-clutter then you are ready to shop.

Here are the four essential things you need to know when shopping your wardrobe :• know what colours suit you • understand your style personality • understand and know what styles suit you depending on your body shape and proportions • Make sure your wardrobe matches your lifestyle Once you’ve taken out all the colours and styles that you know don’t suit you, the fun begins - try on and everything and accessorise, with jewellery, shoes, bags and hats. This is how we develop a capsule wardrobe, so you can start to build a versatile wardrobe with styles that suit you. I hope to explain different styles and looks in my monthly articles.

When I went through my wardrobe I found clothes that I have had for many years and some items I rediscovered. It is a very therapeutic thing to do.

My hair colour is darker and this has changed my dominant colouring type, so I’ve had to purchase some new items of clothing to suit my new colouring.

As I mentioned most items we have in our wardrobe will be from past seasons and the photo of the two dresses below shows from one season to the next very little changes, that is why it is so important to look inside our wardrobes before we shop. It is also good to look after the environment by re-using items.

Review and Shop your wardrobe I hope you all enjoyed de-cluttering your wardrobes. I had a good time but I must say it was hard to do as the sun was out every day and I just wanted to get outside into the garden, so I have only just done mine!

It is a fact that we only wear 20% of our wardrobes 80% of the time and the reason usually is because they are so full we really don’t know where to begin. We are often over powered by the thought of sorting them out! Yet we keep buying items and not getting rid of things that have probably been there for years! This is why it is essential to de-clutter. If you have already de-cluttered well done! You must feel like a weight has been lifted. If you are sat there wondering when to begin, I would say now!

I posted a video on my facebook page Sarah Harris Style and Colour and also on my Instagram @sarahharrisstyle, I didn’t bore you with the whole wardrobe de-clutter as it’s not 166

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The dresses above are from different seasons, however, on the right a belt has been added and a bag. That season belts where fashionable, so you could add a belt to a dress that is already in your wardrobe or whatever is needed to make it look current. www.lancmag.com

For me it is essential that we get the colour right first and then assess the style because if the colour isn’t right it has to go unless you could add a scarf or large necklace (depending on the neckline) Sometimes you just have to be ruthless, especially if you can’t see what is inside your wardrobe as there is so much crammed in!!

I can help you do a wardrobe de-clutter if you are struggling and I also do them online, take a look at my website sarahharrisstyle.co.uk or email sarah@sarahharrisstyle.co.uk Remember that it is the colour under your chin closest to your face that has to be right.

If you aren’t sure what colours suit you I would recommend a colour consultation as it will give you confidence with colour.

Once you know the shades that suit you it transforms your life, as wearing the right colour lifts and illuminates your skin. I always tell my client’s that when I first had my colours done I couldn’t believe the difference it made, it was like a ‘Face lift’ without surgery! We spend so much time buying make-up and creams for our skin, exercising, hair appointments but when we are all done up the biggest mistake I have seen is that many people are wearing colours that overtake or drain them. So all the money spent on making ourselves look the best that we can is let down by the colour.

Once you know the shades that suit you it’s often hard to find a good variety of colours in the shops as usually whatever the colour of the season will dictate the colours on the high street. This year is Classic Blue so we are seeing lots of blues and cooler colours. There are many online companies that specialise in colour and one company that does colour very well is Kettlewell and it’s a British company located in Somerset. The owner Melissa struggled to find the perfect colours after having a colour consultation and so Kettlewell was born, with the idea of having your seasonal colours all year round! They work in seasons but they have recently added a section on tonal directions to help anyone who has had their colours done by Colour Me Beautiful. Have a look at their website:- www.kettlewellcolours .co.uk

It’s essential that we develop our style based on our personality. It is important that you feel comfortable in your clothes whatever the occasion, and a style that is right for one may not be right for another. It would be a boring world if we all dressed the same! We need to also take into consideration our lifestyle. There is no point having a wardrobe full of casual clothes if we work in an office and have to dress in a suit 5 days a week!

The two celebrities below Helena Bonham Carter and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, both have very distinctive styles.

Helena likes to experiment with textures and cuts and most likely to like vintage and second hand shops, so at Colour Me Beautiful we would describe her style personality as Creative.

However, Rosie, has a different style, she always looks well groomed and put together, living up to her City Chic persona.

Therefore understanding your individual style personality is key to creating a wardrobe with clothes that you will feel comfortable in.

Most people slot into two boxes you could be a natural romantic or a dramatic creative or you could be a classic aspiring to be city chic. It doesn’t matter so long as you feel that it’s your style.

So I would say the starting point is to question your personality:-

Do you like pretty things, silks and the feel of fabrics?

Would you rather have comfort and easy to clean clothing?

Do you like to stand out from the crowd?

Do you like to mix and match with a flair of creativity?

Co-ordination is essential, not a button out of place and your bag has to match your shoes?

Do you prefer quality pieces and a European flair?

Or are you a combination?

Look inside your wardrobe and ask yourself these questions. www.lancmag.com

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Once you find the styles that suit your personality and body shape you will start to enjoy your wardrobe.

Look at the staple pieces, those that are inter-changeable, that can be worn with most items. Basic trousers, t shirt, white blouse, Jacket or cardigan depending again on the styles that suit you. Not everyone suits a double breasted jacket, if you have a waist you are better off with a jacket with waist definition but remember to consider the texture and weight of the fabric. And if your shoulders are broad you wouldn’t want to wear a jacket that has big shoulders! It’s about looking at the scale and proportion to bring balance to your look.

I always advise that you get your outfit ready the night before, including bag, shoes and jewellery. Start looking at the whole picture, If you want to look and feel your best.

Your clothes are an extension of yourself so please make sure you enjoy them. And don’t be afraid to purchase second hand items. There are many shops that sell preloved clothes (second hand) that are in very good condition and as I mentioned before clothes swap events are becoming very popular. There are even online companies that rent items.

Before I go let me mention your wardrobe – please keep it accessible and make sure you have plenty of room to let your clothes breath. Don’t over wash items and if you can wear a cotton t shirt under a silk shirt this will mean washing the silk less! A tip I picked up from a fellow consultant and also if you have knitwear fold and place on a shelf then place lavender bags amongst them, it will keep the moths away!

We need to relax and enjoy the summer months, life will get back to normal soon but I’m feeling a better kind of normal.

Joe Brown

The Jacket above by Joe Brown is a great fitted jacket and the waistcoat is another good addition. Due to lockdown many of us have been working online so detail in shirts and jackets has become essential. The waistcoat worn on its own with a shirt is also a great look.

The jacket to the right is a good shape for anyone with wider hips as it gives better balance and the detail in the pockets takes the eye upwards.

A good jacket or cardigan is so important to have and if it’s neutral you can add colour in scarves, jewellery or tops.

I tend to buy pieces that will last longer and I can mix and match. I have a beige pair of trousers that go well with a red t shirt and denim jacket or I could wear a white shirt and a smarter jacket. There are so many ways I can wear these trouser. Even dressing them up with heels and a dressy top or necklace. This is how we develop a capsule wardrobe.

Developing a wardrobe takes time but it is worth it as it makes life so much easier. A style consultation will point you in the right direction and help you understand what suits you best.

Once you’ve had fun trying on your clothes and different combinations you will know if there is anything missing from your wardrobe.

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Kettlewells

Please look after yourselves and see you all again next month. If you have anything you would like me to talk about please email me at sarah@sarahharrisstyle.co.uk I love hearing about your style and colour stories and anything else you want to say.

Take care of yourselves and each other.

Warm Wishes, Sarah x

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The life of Di A monthly column by Di Wade, the author of ‘A Year In Verse’

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can only hope that by the time this is due to appear in the inestimable Lancashire Magazine, the nightly news has ceased sending me into babbling lunacy, and prospects have brightened for all of us.

However, the past few weeks have certainly been an education.

Prior to lockdown, I found myself strangely heartened by anywhere planning to stay open, (anything to give the slightest sense of life as one knew it going on I suppose) - though I did wonder in the case of the Pleasure Beach. I mean, who’d be thinking rollercoasters at a time like this. Nor did I altogether buy one argument that it’d be somewhere for the kids to go now the schools were shut, being sure they’d not been supposed to pile out of the classroom straight onto the big one.

Then everywhere was shut, utterly surreally. My first walk unable to nip into Bispham Kitchen for a quick Poulton-Le-Fylde-sized scone felt extraordinary. Then nipping out for walks over Easter, almost furtively, and involving more flinging myself into hedges and flattening myself against walls than I was typically accustomed to, I kept remembering last Easter with all its glib long walks along the prom punctuated by sojourns in Costa.

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When I mentioned this to my mum, she simply burst out laughing and said I was getting obsessed with blooming Costa.

Possibly I was – till my dad mentioned their frequent Wetherspoons’ Fish Fridays, when I became obsessed with fish and chips instead..

This restlessness was short-lived however, and I was soon back to being grateful for the walks I COULD have, (especially in such weather and in so enchanting a season), and remembering that life in general wasn’t bad. On the contrary, loving my house, I’d no problem spending more time in it, I’d a garden I could sit in – and I’d not done boredom since forced to sit through a sweltering Henry 4th Part One in Stratford when I was twelve-and-a-half.

Consequently, I’d already taught myself mandarin, the bagpipes and the art of soufflé-making so far this lockdown, and even tackled tightropewalking – till the washing-line snapped over the aspidistra, killing it outright and affording me a nasty case of shock and bruising. I’d also been tempted by local history after a friend reported finding a petrified forest in Cleveleys.

Besides wondering what could possibly have so frightened it, I also recalled my fascination on merely discovering that Wetherspoons Velvet Coaster pertained to a bygone rollercoaster sporting

velvet seats, and not, as I’d originally supposed, a posh placemat. Who knew what other factual gems lay in my neighbourhood’s past?

Unfortunately, I’ve yet to find out as I seem to have been too busy.

One day I experienced a stab almost of panic wondering how long it’d be before one could sit outside a pub with a beer, or just listen to a good football/ tennis/rugby match, and positively appalled at the lightness with which I appeared to have treated such things in the past. However, I’m over this now also. The bottom line is I have a full fridge and wine rack, (well for now at least re the latter), and my parents have been absolute superstars throughout these troubles, inexpressibly so, making sure I have everything I need. I also feel doubly grateful for all that I have been lucky enough to be able to do, whether in travel or other terms, up to this point, and in fact feel a new gratitude for every positive. I’ve always believed in broadening one’s horizons.

Just lately however, it’s seemed to me that narrowing them to allow for an appreciation of positives under one’s own nose is both a capital idea and frankly to be encouraged. Amazing what comes to one amid crisis and craziness. Take care and stay safe.

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Father’s Day Gift Ideas from PerfumeDirect.com Aftershave is a great gift for Father’s Day. Treat Dads to their favourite scents by taking advantage of online discounts currently available at www.perfumedirect.com (with savings on all products).

Bring Dads up to date with the most popular scents of 2020 – Jonny Webber from PerfumeDirect.com shares his top picks for Father’s Day 2020.

Choose products with a messages that say he’s a legend, a champion or a great support.

Boost Dad’s mood with an aftershave that has fragrance notes proven to lift the spirits.

Current Best Sellers For Father’s Day Dior Sauvage, £59.99 (save £14 off the RRP) www.perfumedirect.com

Is Your Dad A Legend? – Tell him with this classic scent by Mont Blanc ‘Legend Spirit’, just £17.99

Dior Sauvage is definitely still the aftershave of choice in 2020. Multi award winning, it smells incredible with an intense yet smooth fragrance and powerful freshness. Top notes include fresh calabrian bergamot and geranium with pink pepper, cedar and ambroxan for a woody trail.

Choose an Aftershave For A Champion! – Paco Rabanne Invictus (100ml), £55.99

Scents To Lift Dad’s Spirits

Some scents have been proven to boost moods and make us happy.

Cerrutti 1881, £18.99 (save £20) has middle notes of Ylang-ylang alongside popular male fragrances of Bergamont, Juniper, musk and sandalwood.

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Say “Dad – I’m stronger with you” - with Armani Stronger With You, £36.99

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Great value gift sets This great value Hugo Boss The Scent gift set includes a 100ml The Scent eau de toilette spray, shower gel and deodorant stick – all for £55.99 (offering a saving of £34 on the RRP)

The Prada L’Homme Gift Set currently has a saving of £18 – just £45.99 (plus an extra 5% off) and includes a 50ml Eau De Toilette spray and shower gel

Looking For A Classic?

You can’t go wrong with Calvin Klein Eternity for Men, £19.99 (saving £14)

Or Boss Your Gift Choice with Hugo Boss Dark Blue, £25.99 (save £19)

Jimmy Choo ‘Man’, £27.99 (save £18) Splash out – he’s worth it!

Dior Fahrenheit is an alltime favourite with Dads of all ages, £72.99

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Our award-winning style guru, Moo, has worked in television for over 20 years with presenters including Natasha Kaplinsky, Kirsty Young, Kirsty Gallacher and is now a personal stylist to us ‘normal women’ sharing all the inside tricks of the trade. If you’d like any personal styling advice or to see more tips please visit www.moostyle.co.uk

“Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.”

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his quotation makes me think of colour…colour, colour everywhere and everyone is in black! Black is not a colour, it’s an absence of colour and we can definitely make you look a better version of yourself with a more flattering shade of colour next to your face.

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Colour is such a confidence booster. Clients come to me for a colour analysis for a huge range of reasons; often because there has been a change in their lives and they feel it’s time to find themselves again. You may think it’s time for a colour analysis – whether you feel you’re stuck in a rut, haven’t got a clue or you want to reinvent yourself.

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The great news is that even in these times of social distancing, we can even do this online, so you can have your boost and learn how to make it work for you. Colour can affect your mood and I think we could all do with a superpower like that and a lift at the moment.

colour. It is more bespoke than simply fitting you into a seasonal box. We take into consideration the colour of your eyes and eyebrows, skintone and hair.

This means as you age your dominant colouring can change (it’s fascinating), but don’t worry you can always come back for a colour update and advice.

At Colour Me Beautiful we use the Munsell colour theory that is the industry standard for looking at

When your dominant colouring is analysed we start with looking at which neutrals are specifically your

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best. These are the workhorses for your outfits – they go with everything and you can build a capsule wardrobe around them. I always say if you’re looking to buy an expensive handbag or coat, then buy in one of ‘your’ neutrals as it will always go with everything and it will make you look your best every time you wear it.

How about trying something other than black?

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As well as working out which are your best neutrals, a consultation reveals which pops of colour help you look healthier and younger. You can wear all colours, don’t worry. It’s about ensuring you chose the depth and tone that flatters your colouring, and how you put them together.

Red is a great one to start with. Red represents love and power and can even make your heart beat faster as it has a physical effect on the body.

We all should have our perfect red to hand in our wardrobe ready to pull out. LIGHTs and SOFTs can find some reds overpowering. We want to see

how fabulous the dress (for example) makes you look, not just see the dress.

WARMs can look really drained in a more blue red and COOLs skintone can take a strange tinge when they wear more orangey reds.

But when you have it right WOW.

It’s great fun finding out your WOW colours – a handful of colours that really make you zing. We also work on putting your colours together. Are you best with tone on tone colour or do you work best in contrasting colours? SOFTs look so elegant with layering colours, whereas CLEARs light up with differentiation. Putting your colours together is another fabulous skill to learn.

It gives you a totally different way to put outfits together from your wardrobe.

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Once we have determined your dominant colouring we then look into your secondary and tertiary colouring. This makes the analysis very bespoke and gives you another 12 colours that make you look the best version of yourself. Don’t worry you have your colour wallet to hand with

all 42 of your colours so you can use it against your wardrobe, or when you are looking at new purchases. I don’t expect you to remember them off the top of your head! I have to admit I even use mine to choose the colour of my wall paint. After all I want to look good in my own home.

Just don’t tell my husband as he’s the totally different colouring to me… whoops…guess whose colours are on our walls!

Finding out which colours bring out the best in you can bring so much confidence and ease of dressing every day. I’m here to help if you need any more advice at www.moostyle.co.uk. I can even do colour and style consultations on line, as well as wardrobe weeds and make up lessons from home if you need a ‘lift’.

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Antonella Talks Fashion

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ello, I`m back, have you missed me? If not.... then why not...ha! Hope you are all ok, amidst the lockdown, that hopefully will be being eased soon.

Society and The look Good Feel Better Foundation.

I also have a weekly agony aunt coulmn in ‘ Chat ‘ magazine and ‘That’s Life ‘ in Australia and New Zealand.

There seems to be no escape from Valentines Day at this time of year and everywhere you look shops are filled with chocolates, flowers and teddy bears. Wether your a true romantic or cynic, this often hyped up occasion is the ideal time to show some self love and treat and indulge yourself. It is also an ideal time to celebrate love, go out with someone special in your life,wether it be your partner, a parent, children or even your 4 legged best friend.

If it`s your first time reading my blog then allow me to introduce myself. My name is Antonella (Nelly for short) and I am the co-owner of the multi award winning ladies boutique Ruby & Daisy based in Crawshawbooth, Rossendale. We are the North Wests leading boutique and online retailer of one sized, easy to wear clothing and every month I talk fashion and bring you a selection of our fabulous clothing, footwear and accessories. (please take the time to view our entire collection online at www.rubyanddaisy.co.uk. I am also a well known figure on social media and am known as Antonella The Uncensored Reviewer. I review products in a brutally honest manner, have featured on This Morning alongside Holly Willoughby & Philip Schofield on my Flowerpot Corner and an ambassador of numerous charities including The Frank Bruno Foundation, Alzheimers 176

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We have lots of styles here ate Ruby & Daisy which you can indulge in or even treat a loved one to. If heart shaped patterns, jewellery and scarves are your thing then look no further. Not only that but instore our attentive staff will also lovingly gift wrap any items free of charge in our bespoke packaging.

Let’s start with our infamous Desoto top which comes in large range of prints and also is avaialble in plain colours. It is a long sleeved, longline top with secret pockets and fits up to a size 22. The Shimmer Heart Desoto features a solid foil heart and The Leopard Heart Desoto speaks for itself. They are a great easy wearing everyday top and look fab with our Magic, 4 way stretch trousers £27 which are ultra versatile and can be worn as a capri trouser, jogger or skinny jean.

The Eternal Love Top is another choice for heart fans with its sequinned heart emblem and has a slightly dressier feel to it than the Desoto. This is also one sized and fits up to a size 22 and £25.

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your inner Hippie with the Make Love Not War Tee £22. Life can be hard enough at times so why not spread some love, positivity , good vibes and peace. It looks fab layered over one of our Foggia longline vests £10 and is the idealpiece to take on holiday with you.

If you do find yourself at loggerheads with your loved one then kiss and makeup with The Studded Lips Top £24. This top is one of our best selling shape tops of all time and is also available in a studded stars version and angel wings version. It flatters the torso area and covers the tummy, hips and bottom and it`s skinny arms flatter even more and easily fits up to a size 24.

For those who want to make love and kiss at the same time then The Kiss Chase Tunic fits the bill perfectly. It features a heart shape made from foil lips and has a quirky zip detail. It fits upto a size 20 and is £33.

If you fancy wearing your ‘heart on your sleeve’ or are looking for the perfect gift then The Eternal Love Bangle by the beautiful jewellery brand Orli is a must have . It features a beaten bangle with a heart disc and elongated heart charms and comes beautifully packaged in a gift box.

Last but not by no means least wrap yourself in love with The Doodle Hearts scarf at only £10. Scarves instantly elevate an outfit and can bring the simplest and plainest of tops to life.

Well I hope you’ve enjoyed this sneaky peek of The Wonderful world Of Ruby & Daisy and if you`d like to see more then hop online, come and visit us in store or watch one of our regular live shows on Facebook where we try the clothes on for our viewers so they can see what they look like on women of all different, ages, shapes and sizes.

Bye for now, Love lots, nelly.

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Boost Your Mood With These Five Fragrances And Popular Perfumes Buying a new perfume including one of these five fragrance notes, which experts claim can have a positive effect on your mood, could be just the lockdown pick up you need.

Your sense of smell is very closely linked to the part of the brain that is responsible for emotion and memory. When certain aromas enter your body through the smell receptors, they momentarily find their way to the brain and commence using their soothing characteristics to affect your emotions.

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Breathe In The Benefits Of These Fragrances

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YLANG-YLANG – main benefit ‘relaxation and boosting self-esteem’ Ylang-ylang is made from the flowers of the herb Cananaga odorata genuina. This popular, tropical floral scent has been found in research to aid relaxation, reduce depression and alleviate anxiety when applied to skin or inhaled; it is also said to be an aphrodisiac. Other benefits according to Healthline include improving memory and thinking skills. Ylang-ylang is often linked to feminine energy, with a sensual smell that is beautifully sweet and exotic. It can also be used in some men’s aftershaves for a sweeter edge to masculine scents.

more...

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JASMINE – main benefit ‘relieving depression and improving mood’ Jasmine is also a flower frequently found in tropical climates. While best known as an aphrodisiac, there is evidence that its aroma can effectively reduce depressive symptoms.

Encouraging people to feel more alert is another key finding from studies into the beneficial effects of this scent. Researchers concluded that this optimistic scent could be useful for improving mood and as an anti-depressant. Jasmine is a beautifully aromatic scent with a delicate, sweet smell. Jasmine can be found in a lot of oriental and floral fragrances, mostly in women’s perfume as it can be quite a feminine scent.

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CITRUS – main benefit ‘energizing and uplifting’ Citrus scents can be incredibly invigorating, perfect for helping you feel more alert and energised, according to experts. The scent of lemon promotes concentration and has calming and clarifying properties that are helpful when you’re feeling angry, anxious or run down, according to Beverley Hawkins, owner of the Vancouver-based West Coast Institute of Aromatherapy. In mood mapping tests scents of grapefruit, orange and lemon were rated as happy and stimulating. Some citrus smells can reduce stress, such as the clean, fresh scent of lemon. Citrus scents are incredibly popular in the world of fragrance, and they lend themselves to both masculine and feminine fragrances.

ROSEMARY – main benefit ‘enhanced focus and memory’ Herbs, like flowers, can also have a positive effect on your mood. Rosemary is a fragrant evergreen herb native to the Mediterranean. Research supports the use of rosemary as a cognitive stimulant, with data showing memory improvements, boosted alertness, and enhanced focus.

Some studies have even found it can improve brain function in some cases. Herbs are regularly used in perfumery to create a clean, fresh scent; perfect for everyday fragrances.

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VANILLA – main benefit ‘evokes feelings of warmth and happiness’

A member of the orchid family, did you know that vanilla is a ‘happy’ scent? Studies have shown it creates positive associations and evokes feelings of warmth and happiness. It can also promote relaxation, calm feelings of anxiety and alleviate claustrophobia. Vanilla has been found to ‘quieten’ the mind and relieve tension, aiding sleep. It has a warming, sweet smell that is often used in oriental fragrances. Vanilla Is one of the most used scents in fragrances for both men and women; it makes for a perfect base note.

find your right perfume...

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Popular Perfumes To Find Mood Boosting Fragrances In

Perfume expert Jonny Webber from www.perfumedirect.com has selected some of the most popular fragrances you can currently find these mood-boosting scents in: YLANG-YLANG Try J’Adore by Dior, a classic perfume that uses the essence of fresh ylang-ylang flowers for its opening note. £53.99 from www.perfumedirect.com Similarly, Acqua di Parma Colonia Absoluta Eau de Cologne integrates ylang-ylang into the heart of the aftershave, alongside jasmine and pepper for an eclectic, fresh scent. £53.99 from www.perfumedirect.com J’Adore by Dior

Acqua di Parma Colonia Absoluta

JASMINE For an easy-to-wear, floral fragrance for every occasion, Gucci Bloom Eau de Parfum is created with natural jasmine combined with tuberose for a powdery, fresh perfume, £37.99 from www.perfumedirect.com Or Michael Kors Glam Jasmine is a extremely popular fragrance featuring this floral note, £53.99 – both www. perfumedirect.com Gucci Bloom Eau de Parfum

Michael Kors Glam Jasmine Acqua di Gio by Armani

CITRUS Two of the best examples include Acqua di Gio by Armani, which is created with lime, Mandarin orange, bergamot and lemon. Reminiscent of the Mediterranean, this aftershave has been inspired by the sea and sun. Armani Acqua Di Gio, £48.99 from www.perfumedirect.com Another best selling citrus perfume is Daisy Love by Marc Jacobs. Notes of bergamot mingle with cashmere musk to create a sheer floral sweetness that is balanced with the sparkling brightness of citrus, £43.99 from www.perfumedirect.com 182

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Daisy Love by Marc Jacobs www.lancmag.com

ROSEMARY Cool Water by Davidoff Eau de Toilette brings together rosemary with coriander, lavender and honeysuckle for a refreshing, clean aftershave. Davidoff Cool Water, £14.99 from www.perfumedirect.com Cool Water by Davidoff

VANILLA Some of the best fragrances in the world use vanilla in their make-up. For instance, Angel product Thierry Mugler Thierry Mugler Angel Eau de Parfum uses a vanilla base alongside caramel and chocolate for a sensual yet delicate finish to this best-selling perfume, £40.99 from www.perfumedirect.com Vanilla can also be used to create a sense of opulence; after all, vanilla pods are expensive to buy! Tom Ford Black Orchid demonstrates this perfectly, using vanilla alongside blackcurrant, orchid and patchouli for an exotic, sweet and earthy fragrance, £52.99 from www.perfumedirect.com Angel product Thierry Mugler

Tom Ford Black Orchid

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Time to start a love affair with insects

Buff-tailed bumblebee by Alan Wright

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n particular bees, butterflies and hoverflies add colour and life to your own little oasis.

But how many people realise that those insects are under threat and many actually face extinction if our attitudes don’t change now.

The beasties in your garden are all part of a big family called invertebrates, which means they have no backbone.

They are the things that buzz around your flowers and plants.

There are thousands of species of invertebrates in the North West, but there are signs that suggest many are in

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danger as numbers have plummeted. Across the world there has been a dramatic decline in the diversity and abundance of invertebrate populations - it is estimated that 41 per cent of our insect species face extinction.

Of course, we all notice the huge bumblebees moving steadily from flower to flower, the hoverfly holding its nerve as it hangs in the air staring you out and butterflies flittering in and out of the sunlight, but there are many other insects that need our help.

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Many of us will be appreciating our gardens and the wonderful, colourful wildlife that lives there, for the first time during lockdown.

Bumblebee in garden by Alan Wright

Even annoying midges and aphids serve a purpose, without these little horrors we might not have bats and swallows swooping in and out of our green patch.

Insects are a foundation of our ecosystems; much of our wildlife relies on insects for survival and insects are also fundamental to sustainable food production.

Without insects many birds, bats, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals and fish would die out as they would have nothing to eat. Some 87 per cent of all plant species require animal pollination, most of it delivered by insects – that is pretty much

Gatekeeper butterfly by Alan Wright

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Marmalade hoverfly by Alan Wright

all of them except grasses and conifers. In addition, three out of four of all the crops that we grow require pollination by insects.

Insect numbers have dropped because of the use of pesticides in gardens and in the countryside, but many land-owners have failed to appreciate the importance of wild flowers and hedgerows.

In our gardens a lot of people would prefer a patio or a pristine green lawn, reducing areas where insects can live and their predators can hunt. It’s easy to look after a patio, well for the first couple of years until the dandelions start to appear.

Those dandelions are more of a colourful addition to your lawn and will interest bees and flies throughout spring and summer.

And if you cut out the pesticides and use peat-free compost then you are helping to repair the environment. Get your neighbours to do the same and you will create a huge nature reserve in your avenue, street and town.

Obviously, supporting our campaigns to cut pesticide use will put pressure on the agricultural sector to reduce their chemicals. Many farmers have led the way on this, looking for more organic methods of work and are finding it pays dividends.

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Gatekeeper butterfly by Alan Wright

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Marmalade hoverfly by Alan Wright

So next time you are in your garden, make sure you enjoy the colour, sound and diversity of bugs, and then check out ways to help them thrive on the website of the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside www.lancswt.org.uk/wilder-future-campaign/action-insects.

Spring is a good time to fall in love and it’s a great time to start a long-lasting relationship with some of the most important creatures we know.

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is dedicated to the protection and promotion of the wildlife in Lancashire, seven boroughs of Greater Manchester and four of Merseyside, all lying north of the River Mersey. It manages around 40 nature reserves and 20 Local Nature Reserves covering acres of woodland, wetland, upland and meadow. The Trust has 27,000 members, and over 1,200 volunteers.

To become a member of the Trust go to the website at www.lancswt.org.uk or call 01772 324129. For more information about Cheshire Wildlife Trust call 01948 820728 or go to cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk.

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For peat’s sake – why we all need to go #PeatFree If you were to do just one thing to fight climate change, what would it be? Buy an electric car, install solar panels, give up air travel – or go #PeatFree.

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he Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside has launched a #PeatFree campaign encouraging people to use peat free composts and plants in their gardens, to help to tackle climate change.

Through our social media channels, we’ll be encouraging people to go #PeatFree and raise awareness about the importance of peat-free gardening. We’re asking people to share their sources of peat-free compost and plants, their peat-free gardening tips and even the fruits of their peat-free labour with the hashtag, #PeatFree.

Peatlands are one of the most important natural resources that we have in the fight against climate change, yet they are being systematically drained and dug up – all too often to simply fill a cheap bag of garden compost.

Peat has the ability to store huge amounts of carbon that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. But across large areas of Ireland, the Baltic States, Scandinavia and North America, peat is still being exploited.

Lancashire Peatlands Initiative Manager, Sarah Johnson, said, “We are asking people to vote with their feet (or their online shopping basket!) and make one small change which could make one huge difference to our planet, and go peat-free in their gardens at home.

Make a point of asking for peat-free compost and plants - and don’t buy it if it isn’t.” www.lancmag.com

“Peatlands form over millions of years, providing a home to a variety of specially adapted plants and wildlife, that simply couldn’t survive anywhere else. One such example is the special peat-forming sphagnum mosses that thrive in the wet, acidic and low nutrient conditions of peatlands.”

“As the bottom layer of sphagnum dies it decomposes very slowly eventually forming peat, and crucially trapping all of the carbon that is held in its cells in the ground, rather than releasing it into the atmosphere. In this way, peatlands provide an incredibly efficient and globally important carbon store.”

In fact, peatlands are able to store twice as much carbon as the world’s forests, yet currently CO2 emissions from drained and burned peatlands equate to 10 per cent of global annual fossil fuel emissions.

It seems clear that we need to do all that we can to save our remaining peatlands. However, back in 2011, a UK government white paper proposed a voluntary cessation of peat use in horticultural products by 2020, which we currently are nowhere near. This target has now been moved to 2030, but the simple act of consumer pressure could make a huge difference much sooner.

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arah Johnson continues, “But people at home can make a difference and support that policy change much sooner. Shops, growers and suppliers will react to consumer demand much more quickly, but we need people to get involved, make the change to peat-free, and tell the world about what they’re doing using the #PeatFree hasthtag.”

“Also, please don’t forget to ensure that you only buy peat free plants as well as peat free composts. Growing from seed or bulbs, and buying bare root trees and plants are all a good start, but why not find your local peat-free nursery and support them. Again, it is consumer pressure that can make a real difference.”

There are lots of great peat free compost producers and nurseries out there, many of whom offer online ordering and home delivery. So, during this time when we are all spending more time at home and in our gardens, do your bit for climate change and support our #PeatFree campaign.

Top: This choisya came from a peat-free nursery - Photo Jenny Bennion Above: These violas were grown peat free Photo Jenny Bennion Top left: Little Woolden Moss is a former peat extraction site undergoing restoration - Photo Andy Hankinson Left: A lovely thalictrum from a mail order peat free nursery Photo Jenny Bennion

1. Source: UN - https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/ story/peatlands-store-twice-much-carbon-all-worlds-forests 2. Source: UN - https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/ story/peatlands-store-twice-much-carbon-all-worlds-forests

Find out more: • How to go peat free in your garden - https://www.lancswt.org.uk/actions/how-go-peat-free-your-garden • #PeatFree campaign launch - https://www.lancswt.org.uk/news/lancashire-peat-free-campaign-launch • Lancashire Peatland Restoration - https://www.lancswt.org.uk/our-work/projects/peatland-restoration • Contact Jenny Bennion – Peatlands Communications Officer, jbennion@lancswt.org.uk

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is dedicated to the protection and promotion of the wildlife in Lancashire, seven boroughs of Greater Manchester and four of Merseyside, all lying north of the River Mersey. It manages around 40 nature reserves and 20 Local Nature Reserves covering acres of woodland, wetland, upland and meadow. The Trust has 27,000 members, and over 1,200 volunteers.

To become a member of the Trust go to the website at www.lancswt.org.uk or call 01772 324129. For more information about Cheshire Wildlife Trust call 01948 820728 or go to cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk.

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Grundy Art Gallery: keeping connected through art

Chloe MacFarlane, The New Langdale / Grundy Art Gallery remote activity. Photo Tina Dempsey

Kirsty Pemberton, The New Langdale / Grundy Art Gallery remote activity. Photo Tina Dempsey

n these challenging times – we are all trying to find new ways to stay connected and at Grundy Art Gallery this is no exception. While the Covid-19 pandemic has brought a temporary halt to our building based programme, Grundy Art Gallery is hard at work delivering a range of online and remote working activities. While the gallery’s social media accounts are being used to profile past exhibitions and events and selected works from the Grundy Art Gallery’s collection; elsewhere, physical art making continues; albeit in the context of safe social distancing.

mean that meeting up and making art together in person isn’t possible – this hasn’t stopped the group from continuing its artistic explorations.

I

Since the UK wide lockdown began, Blackpool based artist Tina Dempsey has been finding innovative ways to maintain her connection to The New Langdale’s ‘Communication through Art’ programme. Meeting on a weekly basis at The Blackpool Centre for Independent Living, the ‘Communication through Art programme’, is part of a community based daytime service for adults with a learning disability. Since October 2019, Tina Dempsey has been working with the group to test out new art making approaches, materials and techniques; a process that culminated in a pre-lockdown exhibition at the Grundy Art Gallery in March 2020 – and while the present circumstances www.lancmag.com

Using bespoke packs of art materials carefully prepared and safely delivered by Tina to the artists’ homes, alongside professional development feedback tailored to the individual, new works are being developed that take inspiration from the artists’ immediate surroundings, the people that they are with and what is providing them with comfort in these difficult times. New artworks created during this period will be exhibited by Grundy Art Gallery in an online exhibition to be presented later this year.

The project is being delivered via a partnership between Grundy Art Gallery, Tina Dempsey, The New Langdale and Venture Arts, Manchester with financial support from Access Fylde Coast, a Coastal Communities funded project.

Cllr. Kim Critchley, Cabinet Assistant for Arts, said, “This excellent project is a shining example of art’s ability to help people express themselves and their experience of the here and now. I look forward to seeing the new artworks that are being created by Tina and The New Langdale team. “ LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE 191

N

o trip to the region is complete without the experience of Salzburg – the best city in the world to visit in 2020, according to Lonely Planet – where beautiful baroque architecture perfectly frames the legacies of Mozart, the Sound of Music and a living tradition of avant garde creativity.

After a Salzburg culture fix, answer the call of the Alpine meadows, forests, lakes and mountains for a restorative and revitalising holiday with clear air, a clean environment, spacious and uplifting surroundings.

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SalzburgerLand’s Hohe Tauern National Park is one the largest in Europe and more than half of the 7156 km² region is forested - the perfect environment for a diverse flora and fauna. 185 bathing lakes (some organically cleaned) add to the serenity of nature. Over 50% of farmers practise sustainable, organic methods and traditional, thermal or medical spas and wellness retreats punctuate the region.

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Salzburgerland –

more than a few of your favourite things Dreaming of space, freedom, fresh air and scenery to sigh for? SalzburgerLand ticks every box, combining rich cultural heritage, great food and health-giving activity in the glorious outdoors.

Exercising at Tappenkarsee, ©SalzburgerLand www.lancmag.com

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Salzburger Nockerl in Alps ©SalzburgerLand

Gunther Nayer Hiasnof Cheese cellar, ©SalzburgerLand

Herbal oasis Bürglalm ©SalzburgerLand

Hollersbach herb garden, ©SalzburgerLand

Visitors are invited to be active or relax. There are 56 cablecars and chair-lifts open in summer for effortless access to the high ground - a boundless playground for mountain biking, hiking, climbing, coasteering or canyoning. Novices or experts can select from 428 professional guides for a safe introduction to the thrills of outdoor mountain life on gentle or challenging trails and 45 awe-inspiring via ferrata.

Salzburger Nockerl

Castle fishing Fuschl ©SalzburgerLand

Swimming and sunbathing aside, sailing, windsurfing, paddleboarding, paddleboard yoga and boat rental are widely available and 4 different rivers offer the adrenalinfuelled fun of kayaking and rafting for all levels from beginner to experienced.

Plenty of other traditional sports such as tennis, riding, golf and fishing are all on offer, and so too are paragliding, hangliding, ballooning and guided tours of local caves and mines.

Picnic in the Alps ©SalzburgerLand

For now the best we can do is dream and our policy on travel for the immediate future is here but going forward we hope to see you in SalzburgerLand soon. #StayHealthy

To whet your appetite for a landmark holiday to dream about, see our virtual tour: https://www.salzburgerland. com/en/time-at-home-a-virtual-tour/

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Fresh milk at Tappenkarsee ©SalzburgerLand

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Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip,

by Dr Helen Flaherty, Head of Health Promotion at Heart Research UK

Physical activity for older adults (aged 65+) while staying at home

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At a time when the population is being asked to stay at home, finding ways to keep active can be challenging. Regular physical activity is strongly associated with a reduction in chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes as well as improving mental health.

For adults aged 65 years and over, it is particularly important to do strengthening activities to maintain physical function and slow down the decline in muscle mass while keeping bones strong. Even small increases in physical activity can positively impact on health. Heart Research UK have some tips to help you meet the recommended amount of physical activity at home. www.lancmag.com

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How much physical activity is recommended?

Find hobbies that get you moving

The Government recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity each week for adults.

This can be broken down into chunks of ten minutes or more. It is recommended that older adults also engage in activities that improve strength, balance and flexibility on two days each week. If you are not used to doing this amount of physical activity, you can start small and build up to the recommended amount over time.

If you tend to engage in hobbies that don’t require you to move very much, look for new hobbies that will get you moving, such as gardening, walking, weight-lifting or dancing.

Moderate Intensity Activities (150 minutes weekly) Your heart will beat faster, you will breathe harder, you will get warmer and you can maintain a conversation E.g. Brisk Walking, dancing, gardening or cycling.

Vigorous Intensity Activities (75 minutes weekly) Your heart will beat rapidly, you will breathe much harder, you will get warmer and it will be difficult to have a conversation E.g. Running, riding a bike fast or on hills, hiking uphill or energetic dancing

Avoid long periods of inactivity Set a timer to go off at specific times throughout the day to prompt you to do ten (or more) minutes of physical activity. Any activity is better than none. You can include a variety of light, moderate and vigorous activities. E.g. a brisk walk, sit-ups, weight-lifting, gardening or housework. You can use tins of baked beans, or similar objects, for weight-lifting.

Don’t be a couch potato Rather than spending your evenings sitting on the sofa without moving much, why not try a few gentle exercises, such as leg raises, while watching your favourite TV show.

Examples of some exercises you can do from your sofa can be found on the NHS website, and you can find lots more healthy tips, advice and recipes at heartresearch.org.uk

Activities that improve strength, balance and flexibility (to be done on 2 days each week) E.g. Lifting light weights, push-ups, sit-ups, stepups, heavy gardening and stretching.

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Foodie Father’s Day Gifts Spoil Dad this June 21st with ingredients, This June 21st is set to be unlike any other Father’s Day in our memory, and many of us will not be able to give our dad the hug we’d like to on Father’s Day. Whether or not you will be spending time with your dad, show him how much he means to you with a special delivery for the kitchen – from a cast iron spice grinder to smoked salt.

cookware & kitchen gadgets from www.souschef.co.uk

Despite the challenging times, Sous Chef is operating next day delivery on any order placed before 3pm. Or choose standard delivery which takes 3-7 working days.

GIFTS FOR EVERY FOOD-LOVING FATHER! Anova Sous Vide Precision Cooker Nano, £129, souschef.co.uk

Himalayan salt plate, £12.50, souschef.co.uk A great gift for any dad who loves to present food with a little drama at the table! Beautiful pink Himalayan salt can be heated (slowly) or cooled to extreme temperatures – so you can either sear seafood at the table, or serve balls of salted caramel ice-cream. The salt block will season your food, and can even cure it in front of your eyes. It’s great for sashimi fish.

Skeppshult cast iron spice grinders, from £39, souschef.co.uk Skeppshult is a Swedish forge, who has been making cast iron kitchenware since 1906. These thoroughly modern spice grinders are a fantastic way to create signature spice blends for curries, or to grind black pepper fresh at the table before you eat. The heavy duty grinders will dispatch hard spices such as cloves, allspice and coriander seeds with total ease. Left: Pepper & Spice Grinder Bowl with Walnut wood lid, £39. Right: ‘SPICE’ Grinder, £65.

Does your dad love a really good gadget? The Anova Precision Cooker Nano sous vide circulator makes it incredibly easy to achieve professionallevel cooking results at home. Simply attach the cooker to any water-filled pot, place the food in a sealable bag, then set the time and temperature.

The Anova Precision Cooker Nano heats and circulates the water to a precise temperature, cooking food to an exact temperature which creates maximum tenderness and moisture retention (without worry of overcooking).

Pommery wholegrain mustard Moutarde de Meaux, £7.15, souschef.co.uk Let your Dad take his lunch game to the next level with a jar of Pommery wholegrain mustard. Well-balanced with a rich, nutty flavour, it’s the perfect partner for a grilled cheese sandwich - get spreading!

Cane Banneton Baguette Proving Basket, £15.95, souschef.co.uk

A gift for every dad who loves to bake – this baguette-shaped banneton is ideal for creating beautiful long loaves at home.

The ridges mark the dough with concentric ridges, which helps add even more crunch to the crust.

Viking Smoked Salt, £4.95, souschef.co.uk Once you try this salt you’ll want to sprinkle it on every dish you make! It’s particularly good on grilled meat, fish and vegetables – so a great gift for any dad who loves to barbecue. Smoky, slightly sweet and deeply savoury, this salt is a real secret weapon in the kitchen that takes ordinary recipes to another level. It’s great with a Bloody Mary cocktail, too.

Pastificio Dei Campi pasta, £5.95, souschef.co.uk

Stuart Gardiner ‘Head Chef’ double oven glove, £24, souschef.co.uk Give dad some instant Michelin mojo with Stuart Gardiner’s ‘Head Chef’ double oven glove! The towel features roasting times, chopping guides and temperature conversion tables on your chef’s tattooed arms – giving you the extra edge while you cook. These oven gloves look great, and help you improve your cooking at the same time: yes chef!

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Treat dad to some of the most highly regarded dried pasta in Italy! The pasta is made in the city of Gragnano which is renowned for its pastamaking history and has protected IGP status. Legend has it the streets of Gragnano are specifically laid out to allow coastal winds and mountain breezes to flow through the streets and dry citizen’s fresh pasta as it hung on rods in front of each house. Choose between orecchiette, spaghetti, linguine, conchiglione, and many more. All shapes come in stylish resealable 500g boxes and cost £5.95.

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Anatolia Sea View: 01253 789 551 Pleasure Island, 1st Floor, South Promenade FY8 1LS

A traditional Turkish Ocakbasi (open barbecue) with hot and cold Meze, marinated and grilled meats, vegetables and kebabs plus authentic Turkish pizza Anatolia, a contemporary Turkish barbecue restaurant.

Positioned at Pleasure Island, South Promenade, the focal point is the large Ocakbasi, an authentic Turkish-style charcoal grill which infuses the marinated meats and vegetables with a trademark smoky taste. The menu offers traditional Turkish classics for eating in or to take away. The menu sees a range of hot and cold starters such mixed Meze, Imam Bayildi, stuffed vine leaves and plenty of vegetarian choices. Mains offer marinated Shish kebabs, lamb chops, ribs, wings and slow-cooked dishes like Mousakka and lamb shank.

More saucy Iskender kebabs, marinated and finished with yoghurt, are also on offer as are a choice of traditional Turkish pizzas called Pideler, a stone-baked, boat-shaped dough with a crispy outer crust filled with a mixture of toppings. Desserts feature Baklava and Turkish Dream. And why not finish with Raki and Turkish coffee? Anatolia is a great choice for a party or celebration with several set meal choices

www.lancmag.com

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7 tips for pregnant women during lockdown

By Siobhan Miller, founder of The Positive Birth Company

W

ith many expecting mothers being advised to stay indoors during this Coronavirus pandemic, Founder and CEO of the Positive Birth Company, Siobhan Miller has written up 7 helpful tips for pregnant women during lockdown.

1. Remain calm and relaxed It’s vital during such uncertain times to find ways to remain calm and relaxed. Whether it’s reading a book, taking a bath or practising mediation, taking time out each day to unwind and give your mind and body the rest it needs during this stressful period will go a long way in helping reduce any anxiety you may be experiencing.

2. Eat well and exercise During the enforced lockdown, it’s important to keep yourself and your baby healthy and well. Eliminating foods that have been influenced by hormones, pesticides, added preservatives and chemicals and avoiding foods that are rich in sugar will go some way to helping you feel better in yourself. Exercising, whether it’s yoga practice or a home workout

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that’s safe for you to do, or even a walk outside when you can, will leave you feeling brighter and happier thanks to the endorphins you release when moving your body. Regular exercise has been proven to boost circulation to your reproductive organs and your immune system, and helps you maintain a healthy body and mind.

3. Stay safe and follow the guidelines It’s important to ensure you regularly wash your hands for 20 seconds in line with the government advice and avoid touching your face. If you need to go out for essentials or if you’re a key worker, ensure you’re following the recommendations for social-distancing, otherwise self-isolate at home as far as possible. When you need to travel to hospital for an appointment or for anything else, avoid public transport if you can.

4. Utilise online resources With a lockdown in place and antenatal and postnatal classes and baby groups cancelled, online courses and live Q&As are a great way to access www.lancmag.com

the same level of support but from the comfort of your own home. For example, The Positive Birth Company’s online hypnobirthing course (the ‘Digital Pack’) can easily be completed at home and is a comprehensive program of antenatal education, which teaches women about how their body is designed to work perfectly in birth from a physiological and psychological perspective. It also equips them with relaxation tools and techniques that facilitate a quicker, easier and more comfortable birth, and helps them to understand why it is important to remain calm and relaxed and how best to achieve this, even when things don’t go to plan. These tools can be used at any point in life to reduce anxiety, stress and panic.

Social media can also be a great way of accessing expert advice and guidance. For example, this week (30th March-3rd April) The Positive Birth Company are hosting an ‘Ask the Expert’ series of live Q&As on Instagram, to connect women with experts such as midwives and qualified breastfeeding practitioners, and provide www.lancmag.com

them with the information and support they need.

5. Consider a home birth The NHS is under a huge amount of strain already and this is only set to increase, reducing the ratio of medical professionals available in hospitals to support patients and birthing mothers.

Opting for a home birth (where this is an option) can help to alleviate some worry for expectant mums, especially those who might be concerned about no beds or midwives being available in hospital or their birth partner not being allowed to come in. Being at home means you have more control over your environment and who is there with you, and also enables you to limit how many people are coming into contact with your new-born.

6. Use a virtual birth partner With many women being advised that their partners are no longer able to be present at the birth due to the coronavirus, a virtual birth partner app can be a great resource and ensure you don’t feel like you’re going it alone.

The Positive Birth Company’s Freya

app will coach you through each surge with a simple breathing technique and then play guided meditations, positive affirmations and relaxing music in between to keep you calm and relaxed.

The app will also keep track of your progress and even let you know when it’s time to call a midwife. The app can be used in pregnancy and the lead up to birth as a meditation tool.

7. Connect with other mums online With the internet at our finger tips, it has never been easier to talk to other mums-to-be or new mums around the world. Connecting with others who are in the same situation as you will help you feel less alone and also provide you with some welcome advice and reassurance. We recommend joining The Positive Birth Company’s Bump Clubs on Facebook, these are free groups where you can connect with other women, share advice, receive support and read tons of inspiring and positive birth stories. thepositivebirthcompany.co.uk

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Your star horoscope

Manish Kumar Arora is a renowned KP Astrologer, Numerologist, Tarot Reader & Vastu Consultant. He has been rendering professional advice to clients with a reasonable degree of success. He has been conferred with the title of ‘Jyotish Varahamihir’ and ‘Jyotish Aryabhatt.’ He has been writing monthly astrological columns for many international magazines.

Aries: Mar 21 – Apr 19 A pleasant, affectionate, relaxed, or courteous attitude eases your interactions now, and may open doors or help lighten troubled situations that you’ve been working with lately. This is an excellent time to go out on a date or ask someone for a favour because you make a decidedly positive impression at the moment. A strong need for harmony, affection, approval or belongingness colours your attitude and decisions now. You’re inclined to use charm, gentle coaxing, and loving persuasion rather than more direct, forceful methods to get what you want.

Favorable Dates: July 5, 7, 14, 16, 23, 25 Favourable Colours: Green & White

Leo: Jul 23 – Aug 22 You are easily engrossed by special subjects and projects this month, and eagerly throw yourself into learning and producing. Finances, taxes, and intimacy are main themes for the first two weeks of the month, A love relationship reaches new depths of understanding. You are also very busy with research and investigations of all kinds. You’re in a friendly and cooperative mood which brings ease to your interactions and an overall sense of harmony to your day. Because you are open to love and friendly gestures, you will attract loving people into your experience.

Favourable Dates: July 2, 8, 11, 17, 20, 26 Favourable Colours: Yellow & White

Sagittarius: Nov 22 – Dec 21 This period heralds an opportunity to make a new start with secure foundations upon which you can build a more reliable and longer lasting environment for yourself, which is a positive step forward. Make the most of any new opportunities which come your way. You will have an abundance of happiness, a harvest a-plenty, as a result of your own hard work, patience and endurance.

Enjoy this lovely period of happiness, gratitude and joy. You will have to know you did everything you could to win over this person, because your heart is in it.

Favourable Dates: July 4, 8, 13, 17, 22, 26 Favourable Colours: Yellow & Blue

Taurus: Apr 20 – May 20 A very easy-going and easy energy is with you now. You’re in a friendly and cooperative mood which brings ease to your interactions and an overall sense of harmony to your day. Since you are open to love and friendly gestures, you will attract loving people into your experience. The erotic potential is very high, you’ll be tempted in this direction, but prudence forces you to think first. Work is a scurry of activity in the last week of the month, and this period also favours stepping up physical activity or health routines.

Favourable Dates: July 1, 2, 10, 11, 19, 20 Favourable Colours: Yellow & White

Virgo: Aug 23 – Sep 22 A strong need for harmony, affection, approval or belongingness colours your attitude and decisions now.

Overall this is likely to bring ease and engender positive feelings in your interactions and personal relationships, but in a situation in which you need to move forcefully on your own behalf it could work against you. Your ability to rationalise and slip into another person’s shoes could help boost a partnership. The need for challenges, becomes palpable from the 17th forward. A travel, publishing, creative, or educational opportunity falls into your lap in the last week of the month.

Favourable Dates: July 1, 4, 10, 13, 19, 22 Favourable Colours: Green & White

Capricorn: Dec 22 – Jan 19 The first part of the month for you is likely to move quite slowly in terms of your desires, but the more serene and calm you go about your life, the more you will benefit from your endeavours. Demands at work place you squarely in charge, and abrupt changes require you to think on your feet. Enhancing love now is the theme. If you have a relationship right now, it might just get better very soon. You and your love will connect to each other again.

Stay positive and have as much fun as possible.

Favourable Dates: July 4, 7, 13, 16, 22, 25 Favourable Colours: Yellow & Red

Gemini: May 21 – Jun 20 Any project that you’re currently working on will take you far. There is a way to get a lot of people to help you – keep them inspired and ensure that your project brings something to them also. You are really good at delegating and it is an indication of maturity. This is a great sign of your improving while on the path to success. Your own values or way of expressing love and affection may differ from someone you encounter now, but because you are willing to please and smooth over differences, all is apt to turn out well.

Favourable Dates: July 2, 6, 11, 15, 20, 24 Favourable Colours: Green & Blue Cancer: Jun 21 – Jul 22 You’re inclined to use sweetness, charm, sex appeal, or flirtatiousness to ease interactions. You’re also quite conscious of your body and appearance now wear your best jewellery or otherwise enhance your looks or surroundings. Relationships begun now are intense, all-consuming, emotionally-charged, deep, possibly stormy and characterised by possessiveness, obsession, or power games; passionate and erotic.

Opening the lines of communication, taking short trips with each other, getting out and about, sending emails and otherwise making contact, taking a lighthearted and playful approach to love will provide happiness. Favourable Dates : July 2, 3, 11, 12, 20, 21Favourable Colours : Red & White

Libra: Sep 23 – Oct 22 This is perhaps the most favourable time of the year to enhance an existing relationship. This period can represent a return to a familiar environment or to a childhood place. A teenage sweetheart or past lover may turn up again. Your love light shines brightly now and you wish to please and be pleased, to give and receive a personal, loving touch. Both romance and friendship are enhanced by warm expressions of appreciation, affection, and treats.

Your sensitivity to aesthetics is heightened as well and anything ugly or impersonal will bother you more than usual.

Favourable Dates: July 1, 8, 10, 17, 19, 26 Favourable Colours: Yellow & White Scorpio: Oct 23 – Nov 21 This is not a time to push yourself or to be involved in activities that require intense competition or a great expenditure of energy. A pleasant, affectionate, relaxed, or courteous attitude eases your interactions now, and may open doors or help lighten troubled situations that you’ve been working with lately. This period can work magic on your intimate and sexual relationships. Sexual opportunities are likely to abound, or your focus on one partner becomes more expansive, warm, and intimate. Your lovemaking is bound to become more passionate. Favourable Dates: July 1, 8, 10, 17, 19, 26 Favourable Colours: Yellow & White

Aquarius: Jan 20 – Feb 18 This period represents a time of submission, perhaps things will not be moving quickly enough for you in something you are interested in or trying to achieve. Your own values or way of expressing love and affection may differ from someone you encounter now. You gain what you want through diplomacy or charm and by enlisting the support of your friends, rather than by being forthright and bold. Letting go of other people’s expectations will unleash an inner confidence. Follow your own star and let associates fend for themselves.

Favourable Dates: July 2, 3, 11, 12, 20, 21 Favourable Colours: Purple & White Pisces: Feb 19 – Mar 20 This is an exciting time of growth and opportunity for you. You are advised not rushing anything but taking things step by step as they evolve, to seek out help and guidance, and to stay true to your goal even if people think you might not achieve it. Sharing and comparing your spiritual, religious, or philosophical interests with a friend or loved one may open up a whole new dimension of your relationship. If single, you may have better chances finding love while travelling, doing adventurous things, or furthering your education.

Favourable Dates: July 2, 3, 11, 12, 20, 21 Favourable Colours: Purple & White

Manish Kumar Arora, 91-9871062000 | K.P. Astrologer, Numerologist, Tarot Card Reader & Vastu Consultant www.facebook.com/manishastroconsultant | manish@manishastrologer.com

Small Shopping

Delivery Service Ambassador Care Home is now offering a Small Shopping delivery service to anyone over 75 years of age in the South Shore, Blackpool area, who is isolated and cannot get out.

As long as we know in advance either using the telephone number or email, just provide a clear name, address and shopping list.

Tel: 01253 406371 Email: davidmoseley580@gmail.com

The Ambassador Residential Care Home

670/672 Lytham Road, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY4 1RG www.blackpoolcarehomes.co.uk

10 Things to do in your garden

in June

This started out as 10 tips on what to do in your garden, but I realised I do not really know 10 things to do, walking to a bin and putting a bag in it does not count so it quickly shrunk down to 5 tips.

I have a garden but I’m not a gardener. In fact, I have no clue what to do in my garden unless I am hanging my washing out through a well trodden path of 4ft high grass. I watch the adverts of someone spraying weedkiller on weeds between paving slabs and they die, but not mine, no, I can hear mine shouting ‘bring it on’ as they march on down the drive.

I have a hoe, that apprently is specifically for removing weeds, who knew, I thought it was for propping the shed door open.

So during lockdown, I thought I would at least stand in my garden for a bit with my gloves on to give the neighbours hope that their property prices would not fall any further because of my ‘area of natural beauty’ and give you my ten, sorry five gardening tips to do in June.

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1 2

Hanging baskets

June is the time to prep and put out your hanging baskets. Its a good way to brighten porches and other parts of your home.

I have grass in my gutters and a dandelion that keeps coming back at my front door, but I dont think they count.

4

Prep your shed

3

I have a shed, its not very big and its full of rubbish. I know I will need that kettle that I put in here five years ago one day along with that mass of cables and something I have no idea what it is hanging from the roof.

If you have a stool or folding chair in there, position it so that when you are sat in it you can

see out into your garden. This is vital, you need to see the garden so you can prioritise which bit you will tackle after having your brew.

Find your gardening tools, usually situated near that last mug of tea. Once you have found them, that brings us to number 3.

The right tools for the job I own the correct amount of gardening tools that suit the garden I have. A lump hammer and a pencil for my to do list. Don’t be afraid to improvise, my iron works great stamping down the mole hills.

Don’t be afraid to socialise

You have worked hard placing your chair just right, you have had to go back to the shop because there was no biscuits with your brew in the shed, so if a neighbour stops for a chat over the fence, even if he does think you are lost, have a good long natter. It all counts as time grafting in the garden.

5

Ask the reluctant gardener a question

Mulch & fertilise Quick tip - never remove fallen autumn leaves, thats your mulch sorted for the year, I also recycle teabags for mulching purposes by just chucking them into the garden out of the kitchen window. Luckily, Captain Whitesocks the 3rd, the neighbours cat is in charge of all fertiliser related tasks.

I have a Calibrachoa in a pot but it does not seem to want to grow, what should I do?

Thank you, that is an excellent question. Cibricac, Cabiboc, Caliboob, ( I can never spell it, or use copy and paste) petunia looking flowers can be hard to look after.

In my experience in these situations it is the location of the plant that is key. If it is in a pot, change its location temporarily.

Move the pot onto a table or

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bench or other seating area you have in your garden, then go inside and make a brew or get a beer. Come back to the plant, sit down, relax, and tell it what is on your mind. I usually start by telling them about the ex-wife.

I have found the plants can’t wait to get back in shadow of my shed, to be left alone & grow.

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The May issue of your favourite county magazine, on sale from 5th April

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& North West magazine

ADVERTISER INDEX 80|20 Health Bar and Kitchen Adam Partridge Adam Partridge Ambassador Ambassador Anatolia Anatolia Astley Bridge Blinds Beetham Nurseries Bank View Smile Studio Box Bros Beaver of Bolton ESP kitchens & bathrooms Beetham Nureries 80|20 Health Bar and Kitchen Feblands Brinscall Interiors Adam Partridge Charles Louis Feng Shui Ambassador Homes & Mortgages CKR AnatoliaTheatre Grand Deacon Scott Blinds Astley Bridge Hearts for Homes ESP Bank View Smile Studio

111 95 135 207 186 200 188 105 65 47 39 111 204 131 111 147 135 125 125 186 8 188 107 209 105 115 148 47

Rochdale Recycling 47 Global Interiors 58 Pad 5 Rockform Limited 57 Globeworks 125 Publicity Engineers 21 Rossendale Interiors 29 Grand Theatre 147 Redrow 211 89 Ruby and Daisy 157 Hearts for Homes Scafell Hotel 63 81 Hope Menswear 173 Rochdale Recycling Si Belle 2 HW Audio 135 Rockform 159 Stokers Limited 5 Joseph and Co 181 Ruby & Daisy Inside back cover 191 The Grapes Hotel Lindeth Howe 60 Rochdale Recycling 47 Global Interiors 58 Scafell 63 Wells and Limited Hewitt 212 Lowlands Farm Alpacas 81 Rockform 57 Globeworks 125 Wilsons Pies 191 Midland Hotel 71 Shireburn Arms 195 Rossendale Interiors 29 Grand Theatre 147 Wren 15 Moshina’s 81 Ruby Living and Daisy Hearts for Homes Si belle 211 Inside front cover157 Pad 23 Scafell Hotel 81 Hope Menswear 173 Towneley Hall 95 Redrow 77 Si Belle 2 HW Audio 135

ADVERTISER INDEX

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with E. Anthony Orme Santa, sleigh rides and snowballs with a Trip to Hayes Garden World Make it a Christmas to Remember Visit Vine Mill Furniture in Oswaldtwistle Recycling Changing the world with Rochdale A North West Lament for Europe Alpaca and a Llama?

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Local support brings this local Come and shop project to fruition in peace at Vine Mill Furniture showroom Introducing AVANTI WEST COAST and HS2 The story of Sir Walter Norman Haworth Touching the lost past of Ninekirk s Be my Valentin e?

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Local support brings this local Come and shop project to fruition in peace at Vine Mill Furniture showroom Introducing AVANTI WEST COAST and HS2 The story of Sir Walter Norman Haworth Touching the lost past of Ninekirk s Be my Valentin e?

• RAWTENSTAL

LANCASHIRE & NORTH

March 2020 www.lancmag.com

The Art B&B:

• CLITHEROE

• MERSEYSIDE • SWINTON

77

with Si Belle Stand out in Style this Spring museum for Blackpool’s first ever Name officially revealed - The Feathered Nest Poulton’s Best Kept Secret of Liverpool Sian Reeves in By The Waters The Sound Of Music Public Sculptures Our Top Ten Follies and

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Hedges 57 Vincents Solicitors 47 Beaver of House Bolton 111 Stokers Limited Joseph and Co 181 Hogarth Jewellers 7call Lindeth Howe Wells & Hewitt 87 Beetham Nureries 131 The Grapes Hotel 60 To advertise with us please Brinscall Interiors 7 Wells and Hewitt Lowlands Farm Alpacas 81 Joseph & Co 165 Charles Louis Homes & Mortgages 125 Wilsons Pies Midland Hotel 71 Laurel Farm Kitchens Back Cover CKR 8 Wren Living Moshina’s 81 or email: info@lancashiremagazine.co.uk Moshinas 63 Deacon Scott 209 Pad 23

with E. Anthony Orme Santa, sleigh rides and snowballs with a Trip to Hayes Garden World Make it a Christmas to Remember Visit Vine Mill Furniture in Oswaldtwistle Recycling Changing the world with Rochdale A North West Lament for Europe Alpaca and a Llama?

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lity and Integrity

de by our parent company JJO in the Rossendale Valley

ADLINES • NO UNREALISTIC DISCOUNTS RICES AND EXCELLENT SERVICE Hearts for Homes began in 2016 when we opened our quaint shop in the lovely town of Ramsbottom.

The concept of Hearts of Homes was to bring affordable yet charming home decor and gifts to our customers. We also offer a selection of locally handmade crafts and work by local artists and are stockists of Frenchic furniture paint excellent service and reputation

g with referrals and returning customers We pride ourselves on offering a friendly welcome to all of our

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who(subject visit usto from far and wide. s risk free 12 months ‘Buy Now Paycustomers Later’ option status)

Reliability

Integrity

Hearts for Homes began in 2016 when we opened our quaint shop in the lovely town of Ramsbottom.

The concept of Hearts of Homes was to bring affordable yet charming home decor and gifts to our customers. We also offer a selection of locally handmade crafts and work by local artists and are stockists of Frenchic furniture paint

We pride ourselves on offering a •friendly welcome to allDISCOUNTS of our NO PRESSURE • NO DEADLINES NO UNREALISTIC customersPRICES who visitAND us from far and wide.

JUST GENUINE EXCELLENT SERVICE 40 years trading with excellent service and reputation Over 50% referrals and returning customers One stop shop, tiles and flooring available, everything under one roof Massive choice of traditional or modern Fabulous showroom with 60 displays open 7 days Owned by JJO Furniture Manufacturers offering very keen prices and a quick turnaround. Financially solid Project-managed installation. All aspects covered Established over 150 years with four experienced designers plus CAD designer for outstanding visual aids.

‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ subject to status High quality products made by our parent company JJO in the Rossendale Valley Financially secured through JJO. Plus risk free 12 months ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ option (subject to status)

h Rd, up.

22

Colne Market Hall, Market Street, 47 Bridge Street, Colne.

BB8 0HS. Ramsbottom, BLO 9AD I 01706 560462 I www.heartsforhomes.co.uk Tel: 07785 426319

days per week with over 60www.rossendaleinteriors.com displays to see Oswaldtwistle Mills, Colliers Street, Oswaldtwistle. BB5 3DE. Tel: 01254 304068 352-358 Newchurch Rd, Stacksteads, Bacup. OL13 0LD. Tel: 01706 252122 Colne Market Hall, Market Street, Colne. BB8 0HS. Tel: 07785 426319

ossendaleinteriors.com 47 Bridge Street, Ramsbottom, BLO 9AD

I 01706 560462 I www.heartsforhomes.co.uk

Showrooms open 7 days per week with over 60 displays to see

Based in the rural village of Goosnargh, Laurel Farm Kitchens has been recognised as one of only a few truly bespoke kitchen manufacturers in the North West receiving a reputation, second to none, on quality and craftsmanship over the past 25 years.

“Our aim, through the creativity of our kitchen designers and their ability to bring out the best in our client’s ideas is to create the most imaginative and workable kitchens from the canvas supplied.”