Local Life - Chorley - October 2016

Chorley Edition

October 2016

What now for axed

library?

Local News Food & Drink Jack’s Tracks Health & Fitness What’s On Garden Diary... www.locallife247.co.uk

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Brought to

L

book

ong before Bill Gates and Richard Branson made it fashionable for rich people to give their money to charitable causes, there was Andrew Carnegie. The whiskered Scotsman, who earned millions in the 1800s through his steel business, pioneered a mass building programme of libraries across the UK. Quite what he would have made of Lancs County Council’s decision to close/ scale back a number of post-Carnegie era libraries is anyone’s guess (see page 34) But Carnegie, who died in 1919, was from another era, and to some extent, so is the concept of a library. After all, who needs a building to house thousands of books and information which you can get from the comfort of your own armchair via the internet? That argument may hold some sway were it not for the fact that libraries have now morphed into much more than just a repository for dusty old tomes. They host community meetings, toddler groups and act as a focal point for many people who otherwise wouldn’t speak to a soul all day long. So while some would use Google to find out, for instance, what ‘pauciloquent’ or the bizarre-sounding ‘tittynope’ means, others would rather pay a visit to their local reading rooms.

As to what those regrettably much-underused words actually refer; you may find it a good idea to pop in to your local library, show your support and find the answers. That’s if it’s still open of course...

David Sudworth - Editor Next issue - November 2016

Advertising deadline - Thursday 13 October Published - Thursday 27 October

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In this issue And there’s

Education

more...

special

31

48

Eat like you’re on

Jack’s Tracks visits

holiday

Dalton

36

66

On the road

Test Drive - Ford

again

Kuga

56

70

Regulars 44 Puzzle Page 24 Planning 27 Class from the past 61 Food Guide

Telephone: 01257 498 329 62 What’s On 66 Jack’s Tracks 78 Top Tips

Sections 6 Property 11 Local News 36 Heath & Fitness 48 Education

56 Food 70 Motoring 72 Pets 74 Home Services

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Farewell to

Malcolm Villagers held a collection for their local parish lengthsman who has announced his retirement.

Malcolm Hayes, 70, was delighted to receive the gifts from locals in Eccleston recently.

Verner Kristensen, who lives in the village, started the collection upon hearing about Malcolm’s retirement after eight years.

“Malcom has been cleaning the streets in Eccleston for some time and, as a gesture, I started collecting donations for him from the people of Eccleston, as well as the traders, to say thank you.

“We managed to get nearly £150 in cash; chocolates and wine from some of the shops and a photo frame from another shop.”

Malcolm, who previously worked at Barron’s caravans in Coppull, told Local Life: “I’ve had a great time in Eccleston, the people have been fantastic and I’ve personally thanked all the shops who gave to my collection.”

Heirlooms talk How To Care For Heirlooms is the subject of a talk at Charnock Richard Women’s Group’s next meeting, which takes place in the Old School at 8pm on Thursday, October 6. Call Janet 01257 794064 .

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Electric

dreams...

Sleepy Croston is the last place you’d expect to find a hotbed of DJing talent... until now.

Steven Nicholson-Wrigley, from Station Road, is hoping to bring together fellow bedroom DJs for a new Sunday social group. The idea is to share mixes, chat about music and, ultimately, get the opportunity to play in front of an audience.

The first event is scheduled for Sunday, October 23.

Steven is originally from Whittle-le-Woods and moved to Croston with wife Holly four years ago.

“I went to Runshaw College and Edge Hill University in Ormskirk, so fell in love with the area when I used to drive through on the way to lectures!” laughs Steven.

“I’ve tried to get as involved as I can in village life – helping out with the Croston Flood Relief cause, supporting the local pubs and businesses.

“I know there’s a few people in the village who have DJing as a hobby - bedroom DJs you might

“An alternative to folk, rock and blues” call them. I class myself as one and find it’s a bit of a tongue in cheek term for people who really care about music and DJing, but are currently confined to their bedroom, garage or shed.

“The idea of a Sunday social felt like a natural first step, a nice way of everyone getting together for a few drinks and to spin some tunes. The idea would be that a number of local DJs would perform a 30-minute set for people to enjoy – their favourite music, played in their own style. It’s a bit ‘Russian Roulette’ for the audience, but I quite like that as a concept. It’s about providing a bit of an alternative

Bedroom DJ Steven Nicholson-Wrigley wants to wake up sleepy Croston to the folk, rock and blues the village is used to. If we get enough people together the plan would be to live stream and record the event to give people an idea of what to expect next time round.

The event wouldn’t just be for DJs, but for friends, family, people who like the style of music being played regardless.

“It’s about giving people in our sleepy village an outlet to share the music they love, craft their skills and get a kick out of playing out in public.

“I’m hoping it’s something that will gain momentum – I would love to see six or eight DJs come together to put on an evening event in the village, or to play at next year’s CrostonFest under the Croston Bedroom DJ banner.”

The first Croston Bedroom DJs Sunday Social is on October 23, from 5pm-7pm, at Twin Lakes Vela Cafe, Bretherton Road. For more information, search Croston Bedroom DJs on Facebook

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Clog group makes great strides forward A group set up 14 years ago to preserve traditional entertainment is offering new recruits the chance to get involved. Eccleston Heritage Clog has a beginners’ course on Mondays, 7.30pm, at St Agnes’s Church Hall, The Green, Eccleston. Lynda Harling, from the group, said: “We are going from strength

to strength. We have both male and female dancers from all age groups and work together to master the art and skill of the dance steps. We are actively looking for more people, including melodeon, fiddle, guitar and whistle players.” Call Alex (07858 456787) or Lynda (07895 670622).

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Distributors Required Local Life requires distributors aged 13 and above in the areas below; Chorley

Bagganley Lane, Eaves Lane, Belmont Drive & Dunscar Drive.

Marriner Walk, Haworth Road, Darlington Close & Ferrier Grove.

Distributors will typically work for 2/3 hours every eight weeks. If you’re interested, please email your name, address, landline number and date of birth to sallyb@locallife247.co.uk

RNLI fundraiser Chorley RNLI Fundraising Branch is holding a race night, to be held at The Institute, 195 Wigan Road, Euxton, on Friday, October 14, from 7pm. Tickets are £6 each and includes a fish and chip supper. Further information and tickets are available on 01257 263843 and 01772 315768 or email at dmlancs@ btinternet.com

Quakers’ open day Chorley Quakers are holding an open day on Sunday, October 23. Starting at 10.30am, there will be short meeting for worship followed by light refreshments and time to learn something of Quakerism. It takes place at Unitarian Chapel Hall, Park Street, Chorley, and all are welcome.

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Try out

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Tri-mec

hether you’re a home or business owner, the need to keep energy costs down is always at the back of your mind.

Step forward Heskin-based family company Tri-mec, which brings together over 25 years’ experience in the electrical installation industry.

He started to build his client base and work hard to maintain and exceed expectations with all customers, some of who are good friends to this day.

Fast forward to 2007 and the time was right to introduce a business partner and continue to grow the business. Following further years of success with a wide range of clients and projects the time was right for yet another challenge.

With her background in export sales and Marketing, Lynsey was able to bring a whole new set of skills and experience to the business - and so a team was born. Sadly, Brad the Spaniel is no longer part of the team but his fellow pups Miles and Ralph are often found keeping the office team company!

They work on projects such as rewiring of homes, installing solar PV or simply providing new lighting to brighten up local homes and businesses.

The idea for the business, headed by Neil and Lynsey Dutton, came about while they were on a dream holiday in Australia in 2012.

“Within four years, we’ve grown our family business and team - we’re still working hard, still satisfying customers, still learning and most importantly still smiling.

So if you are looking for a great service from a local, trusted, family company, please give us a call.”

“While over there, we saw how our friends worked together and achieved a sense of balance for their family,” says Lynsey. “With a young family of our own, we wanted to do the same. So within a week of landing home, we became owners of Tri-mec.”

Neil started out in electrics as an apprentice in 1988, and soon became an established contractor in Wigan. Neil was given the best possible start, working on all types of electrical installation for a varied client base. After 11 years it was time for Neil to start his first business as a one-man band, with his Cocker Spaniel Brad as his trusty companion.

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Tell Us Your Story!

Local Life is always on the look out for news stories from the local communities we serve. Are you raising money for charity? Are you a member of a community group with something to shout about?

Maybe you’ve got an unusual talent, or have a claim to fame? If so, let us know and you could be appearing in the next edition!

Bike lane concerns A Coppull route is “too dangerous” for a new cycle lane. That’s the claim from parish councillors who said they wouldn’t support the plan for New Road.

A letter outlining their concerns has been sent to Lancashire County Council.

Get creative Eccleston Library’s next creative writing session is at 10am on Monday, October 17. Organisers say this is a small and friendly group of writers who meet to try out ideas, learn new writing styles and share their work. From absolute beginners to published poets, all are welcome to join for free.

Simply contact us on chorleynews@locallife247. co.uk or call us on 01942 387 720.

North West FA Chartered Standard Development Club of the Year 2013

Girls Football Euxton Villa FC are recruiting players – aged 4 and above.

We can offer:

• A Pathway to play in the Women’s Premier League with Chorley Ladies • Qualified & experienced coaches (CRC checked) • Develop skills, confidence and teamwork • Excellent facilities • Family friendly club • Fun and friendly playing atmosphere

Contact: www.euxtonvillafc.com Graham Keyte Mob: 07970 708772 Email: hello@euxtonvillafc.com

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New homes near mill?

Rosemere fundraiser

75 new homes could be built near the Grade II listed Coppull Mill. Proposals have been drawn up to develop land near the mill, formally known as Coppull Enterprise Centre on Mill Street. This includes 30, three-bedroomed homes and 37, four bed homes for the private market, as well as six, two-bedroomed and two, three-bedroomed homes for the social rented sector. A final decision is due in November.

A Grand Cabaret Night in aid of Rosemere Cancer Foundation is to be held on Friday, October 28.

Watercolours preview A preview evening of local artist Irene Nicholas’ watercolour paintings takes place on Thursday, October 27, from 6.30pm-7.30pm at Avant Garden Centre, Wigan Road, Leyland. All welcome.

Starting at 7.30pm at St Mary’s Parish Centre, Devonshire Road, Chorley. Tickets are £6 and include hot pot or butter pie. Contact Dennis on 07759 158744.

Fashion show The Chorley & District Branch of the MS Society is holding a fundraising ladies’ fashion show on Monday, October 10. The event is scheduled for Chorley United Reformed Church, Hollinshead Street, Chorley, at 7pm for 7.30pm. Tickets cost £5 each and are available from 0300 365 0014 or chorleyms@gmail.com

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Blooming

marvellous

Congratulations to Beverley Swires of Coppull Hall Lane, Coppull, who recently won a pair of tickets to Southport Flower Show courtesy of Local Life.

Her entry was among those named as winners in the competition, which featured in our last edition. Other winners were Sharon Grayston of Cricketers Green in Eccleston; Margaret Horsley of Melrose Gardens in Croston; Mr J. Hanson, of Larkfield Avenue, Whitley, Wigan; Paula Spiers from Woodlands Drive in Shevington, Wigan; Maureen Derbyshire of Martland Crescent, Wigan; Norman and Dennis O’Donoughue, of Rutland Street, Leigh; P. Dobson of Primula Drive, Lowton; Jannette Worthington of Spawell Close, Lowton; Angela Davidson of Thompson Avenue, Ormskirk; Mrs Grant from Swanpool Lane, Aughton; Alan Moran

Planning Matters

from Delph Park Avenue; Aughton; Geoffrey Swift of Nutgrove Hall Drive in St Helens; Sue Hobin of Easington Road in St Helens and Diane McAuliffe of Widdale Avenue in Rainhill.

One Voice return One Voice Community Choir are returning to Croston for a concert on Saturday, October 8.

Fresh from their performance at the village’s music festival, they will be at Croston Methodist Church from 7.30pm. Entry is £5 for adults, while children enter for free.

Speeders snared Volunteers helped catch 18 speeding drivers in just one hour on Rawlinson Lane, Heath Charnock The Community Road Watch initiative, supported

by Chorley Police, also saw six people caught for having no selt belt on.

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Class from the

past

This month’s Class from the Past is from Croston School. It’s believed this photo was taken in the 1890s. Maybe you can spot a familiar face?

Remember, if you have a photo you’d be willing to share, contact David Sudworth today by emailing chorleynews@locallife247.co.uk

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New

MP?

Eccleston could become part of an enlarged West Lancashire parliamentary constituency.

The village, along with Mawdesley and Rufford, is currently part of Tory MP Seema Kennedy’s South Ribble constituency. But all three could be incorporated into West Lancs, currently held by Labour’s Rosie Cooper and includes Skelmersdale and Wrightington. However the proposals, unveiled in a bid to cut the number of MPs, wouldn’t affect Croston, which would remain in a redrawn South Ribble constituency. Places such as Charnock Richard and Coppull would also remain in an unchanged Chorley constituency. The proposals - which are just for parliamentary constituencies are open for public consultation until December 5 via www.bce2018.org.uk

Planning Matters Charnock Richard 7 Leeson Avenue: Single storey rear extension (ref: 16/00583/PDE) A decision is due soon.

Chorley Holy Cross High School, Myles Standish Way: Installation of solar photovoltaics (PV) equipment on the school roof (ref: 16/00761/PAR). A decision is due on October 3.

Croston Croston Park Nursing Home, Town Road: Formation of a new access to the nursing home. (ref: 16/00680/FUL). A decision is due by October 5.

Heskin 179 Wood Lane: Erection of a single storey rear extension.(ref: 16/00778/FULHH). A decision is due

by October 18.

For more information, visit www.chorley.gov.uk

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31

And there’s

more!

Jimmy Cricket is returning to the area where he honed his craft in the 1970s. David Sudworth decides to “come closer...”

U

nusually for a celebrity, Jimmy Cricket is on time. In fact, he’s waiting for me.

“Ah, did you find it ok? It can be difficult if you’re not from around here”, he enquires before ordering us some drinks.

“I thought we’d meet here - Mrs Cricket is redecorating so it’s always best to keep out of the way. She’s painting anything that doesn’t move at the moment!”

The pub is just a short walk from the comedian’s home he shares with his aforementioned other half, May. The voice is instantly recognisable, and the years have done little to quell the boundless energy of a man who celebrates his 71st birthday next month.

“It’s important to have goals, to keep enjoying yourself. I write new stuff all the time. I put a few jokes out even on Twitter, and keep them relevant to topical events.”

Jimmy, whose real surname is Mulgrew, burst on to our television screens in his famous wellies in the 1980s. After winning London Weekend Television’s Search For A Star, he was later given his own series,

32

named after his catchphrase And There’s More. But the road to fame wasn’t quick - Jimmy was in his 40s before stardom came knocking: “When I was a kid in Northern Ireland I entered this talent competition where it was billed as ‘to be judged by a DJ from England’. We can laugh about it now but at that time, having a DJ over from here was a big thing.

“I left school at 16 years old and worked for the next two years in a betting shop. A friend saw a Redcoat job advertised at Butlin’s and thought I’d be perfect for it, as I was always acting the fool. I spent the summer of 1966 working as a Redcoat at Butlin’s County Meath followed by two more summers at their Clacton camp.”

By the early 1970s, Jimmy was living and working in the North West, with stints at Pontin’s in Ainsdale, Southport, and at Morecambe.

“Between 1974 to 1979, I was popular around the local clubs. They just took to me. It could have been the visual humour or the Irish accent. I just got good word of mouth and when I’d turn up, the club would be packed. It did my confidence a power of good. “At that time, I used props on stage - as I say, I always enjoyed the visual humour - and we managed to get a large pint of Trophy bitter that Whitbread‘s marketing department had been using.

Well, we managed to break it once. The stage was being cleared for the bingo, which was just about to go on, and Frank Law, who used to get me gigs, threw it off, so it cracked.

We did manage to patch it up though,” laughs Jimmy.

“Frank was the first agent to get me £100 for the

An early publicity shot

night. It was in September 1975 at the Villa Marina in Douglas, Isle of

Jimmy and friends with the Trophy bitter prop Man, supporting Kenny Ball’s Jazzmen. It was a game changer for me and led to my first summer season at the Gaiety Theatre there in 1976. “ Once he hit the big time, the TV appearances came thick and fast, appearing in the Royal Variety Show and, in 1987, he was suprised by Eamonn Andrews and his big red book for an episode of This Is Your Life. The show was aired the evening before Andrews’ death, making it the last episode he ever saw.

In the 1980s, Jimmy would regularly pack out theatres across the country. His trademark wellies, letters from “mammy” and catchphrases (“And there’s more” and “Come closer”...) went down a treat in an era where ‘clean’ comics were being challenged by a new generation of alternative performers. He even played along with the odd ruse to ensure maximum publicity for his performances: “In Southport there was a great guy called Phil King who was the head of tourism. Phil had an idea to get some extra publicity by telling the press that my wellies had been stolen from the Floral Hall theatre.

But it would be alright on the night as they’d be returned just before the show and, as it was around Christmas time, he’d arrange the press to get a picture of Santa presenting them back to me.

“The story went everywhere, into the tabloids

33

and I was even interviewed on the radio. Now, the problem is, I’m not a good liar at all so when the presenter asked me whether it was the only pair of wellies I had, I just started waffling!

“A few years ago though, a pair of concrete wellies given to me by Ken Dodd for my 50th were stolen from the garden. I told the police to look for a burglar with a hernia...”

Jimmy continues to perform across the country and has also got a CD out for Christmas, aptly

“I’’m a complete ham - I love being recognised!” entitled Santa, Bring My Wellies Back to Me, in aid of Francis House Children’s Hospice and is available via jimmycricket.co.uk And it’s those famous wellies which were recently captured by photographer Andy Hollingworth, who has worked with stars such as Ricky Gervais, Rowan Atkinson and Stephen Fry. I wonder whether there’s a chance that, one day, Jimmy will pack away his wellies for good?

“No, I just love the creative process, I love writing I’ve workshopped one called Maloney’s Big Moment, which Bill Kenwright, the theatre producer, is thinking about. I also love the interaction with fans. I take a book to shows in which they write their

Jimmy with Local Life editor David Sudworth names, addresses and birthday, so I can send them a card. I do a batch about once a week - it’s just a little PR thing but they like it. And besides, I wouldn’t give it up because I’m a complete ham I’d be gutted if nobody recognised me in Tesco!”

As we depart, I ask Jimmy whether he’d like a lift home just outside Rochdale, but he opts for the fresh air and exercise: “It’s not far away and it keeps me fit.” A comedian by trade, but even at 71, with his boundless energy and enthusiasm Jimmy Cricket clearly isn’t joking when he says: “And there’s more...”

Jimmy stars at the Wigan & Leigh Hospice Fundraisers at St James’ Social Centre, Orrell, on Friday, October 14. Tickets are £12 from St James on 01695 623902 or from Frank Mernagh on 01942 309760.

Photo © Andy Hollingworth Archive

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‘An Aldi with

books’

Campaigners have lambasted council chiefs for turning Coppull Library into “an Aldi with books”.

The stinging jibe came after Lancs County councillors rubber-stamped proposals to turn the Spendmore Lane facility into a children’s and youth centre with some books.

A spirited campaign was launched in the village to fight the proposals earlier this year.

Dom Conlon, a children’s author who has lived in Coppull for almost 11 years, is concerned that the library service element, which will be unstaffed, will almost be “pushed to one side”.

“There are a number of things which worry us about this decision because, at the moment, there is very little detail about how the service will look in practice. I assume it will be self-service via a machine but we don’t know who is going to be

doing things like opening the building and closing it at night.

“They’re basically turning it into an Aldi with bookstype of service, and it is wrong.

“As a society, we are settling for less and less and it’s a sad indictment. They talk about making savings but the costs of this over the long-term will be higher, because it will impact on things like hospital and social care.”

County council bosses defended their decision, saying the authority is a “a severe finanicial position.”

Deputy leader Cllr David Borrow said: “These proposals have been very difficult for councillors to consider. A lot of work has taken place to consider where services should be located so that people can access them, with a particular emphasis on ensuring the council continues to fulfil its duty to support those communities where there is the greatest need.”

Dom with fellow campaigners Joanne Bithell and Adele Bamber at Coppull Library

35

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Health & Fitness

Eat like you’re on

holiday

By Lisa Salmon

I

It’s a well-known fact that eating a Mediterranean diet has numerous health benefits. But according to new research, it’s also more likely to help weight loss than a low-fat diet.

A study by the University of Barcelona revealed an unrestricted-calorie Mediterranean diet, high in olive oil, led to participants losing a small amount of weight over five years - an average of 0.88 kg (1.9 pounds), compared to people eating a similar diet rich in nuts, who lost 0.40 kg (0.88 pounds), and people on a low-fat diet, who were 0.60 kg (1.3 pounds) lighter.

It may only be a small amount of weight, but as it was lost on an unrestricted-calorie diet, the study suggests Mediterranean eating could be the best way to go - particularly when you consider the diet’s proven health benefits, including a reduced risk of developing heart disease, some cancers and Type 2 diabetes, as well as having improved brain power.

So how do you eat Mediterranean? While it’s a diet that’s generally rich in fresh fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, nuts, beans, fish and olive oil, here are some more specific tips...

BE HEALTHY WITH YOUR FAT

Try to use olive oil for cooking and baking, instead of margarines and butter. Olive oil is a monounsaturated fat, but polyunsaturated fats from nuts, seeds and oily fish are also included. A key element of the Mediterranean diet is omega-3 fatty acids, found in oily fish, flax seed, walnuts and pulses.

37

EAT YOUR GREENS

KEEP BOOZE INTAKE LOW

Eat as many vegetables as possible, in a range of colours to maximise antioxidants and vitamins.

Keep alcohol consumption low to moderate, and try to only drink with food.

REDUCE RED MEAT

Benefits of a mediterranean diet

Cut down on red meat and consume protein from skinless chicken and turkey, fish, beans, nuts and other plants.

:: A Mediterranean diet can cut the long-term risk of heart disease by half, research shows. A Greek study of more than 2,500 adults found those who closely followed a traditional Mediterranean diet were 47% less likely to develop heart disease than those who didn’t. The reduced risk may be linked to lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

GO FOR GRAINS Make sure your bread, pasta, rice and grains are wholegrain. Try grains like oats, quinoa and barley.

SNACK ON SEEDS Snack on seeds, nuts, whole fruits and unprocessed foods, instead of biscuits, cakes and crisps.

:: Research also suggests the Med diet can help reduce the chance of developing Type 2 diabetes as it promotes better control of blood glucose levels and can help lower obesity. :: It may protect against breast cancer. :: Reduces the risk of womb cancer by more than half.

38

:: Helps reduce obesity and its complications, including Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. :: Helps reduce brain shrinkage - a US study of 674 people with an average age of 80 showed that those following a Mediterranean-like diet had larger brains. :: Can help preserve memory and thinking abilities. :: Reduced risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. :: Reduced risk of depression. :: Less inflammation, a risk factor for heart attack, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. :: A 20% reduced risk of death at any age - due mainly to the decreased incidence of heart disease and cancer.

39

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If you are very unwell we can put in place larger blocks of care, and carers can stay overnight. If a customer does require end of life care we can provide 24 hour care, and we are happy to coordinate our work with family members and organisations such as Marie Curie.

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RETIREMENT PLANNING

THE PUBLIC ARE CONFUSED AND BEMUSED True Bearing Pension Specialists are contracted, by many major North West employers, to advise their employees at retirement. These employers, in both the private and public sectors, value learning and understanding more about their pensions, in a classroom situation. So why is this type of pension education so important?

“Pension simplification a few years ago, only served to make matters more complicated,” says Helen Lupton, Compliance Director. “In addition we see final salary pension schemes, struggling to survive. The personal pension market is changing rapidly, with new rules and new freedoms now in place.”

Independent Financial Advisers are constantly needing to update their knowledge and pass pension exam after pension exam, because of the rapidly changing legislation.

George Critchley, Chairman at True Bearing says: “In truth the public don’t stand a chance. With constant tinkering by various governments, over the past 30 years, Mr or Mrs Average have become completely confused and bemused.

“The UK needs a period where pension legislation is left alone. Preferably for at least 10 years. Politicians, don’t seem to understand the damage that comes with constant change.

However, the opposite is also true.

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42

Hitting the

head-lines

A Chorley salon owner was amazed when news that her 60th year as a hairdresser hit the national headlines.

Margaret Sherlock, 86, from Park Road, appeared on TV, radio and in newspapers when it emerged her business, Hair By Margaret, in Stratford Road, Chorley, had been going since 1956.

But a career in coiffeuring almost didn’t happen at all.

As a teen, she quit her hairdressing apprenticeship in Northern Ireland and went into nursing due to lack of demand. But when she came to Chorley in 1952, first working at Eaves Lane Hospital with her sister, Betty, she started styling patients’ hair in her lunch hour. It was only when she decided that she needed to be at home with her new baby, Linda, that she began her business in earnest.

“I just had a few customers to begin with,” explained Margaret. “But word of mouth meant that I soon

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had to buy my first appointment book as numbers began to grow. Many of the ladies worked in the local cotton mills such as Talbot Mill and Lawrence’s and even the local towel and slipper factories. Some of them are still coming each week to have their hair styled even though they are retired and the mills are long gone.”

Margaret was joined by her husband, Frank, in the early 1960s as the business grew and he was with her until the week before he passed away in 2008.

When their son, Adrian, was born in 1962, Margaret was working until two hours before his arrival as home births were popular at the time.

Over the years, Margaret has seen many changes: “I have seen so many styles come and go from bouffant to curly perms to chic bobs and feather cuts. There is still a demand for the shampoo and set as many more mature people find it a style which always looks good and is easy to keep tidy. In fact, I sometimes tell them when they come in that their hair doesn’t look like it needs doing as it has kept in so well but fortunately they enjoy their weekly pampering! I have one lovely lady who still likes to have finger waves in her hair and she receives lots of lovely comments when she is out and about.

“I have no intention of retiring yet.”

Traditional

odern world values in a m

Chorley Building Society is proud to support local clubs and charities on your behalf.

Our range of Affinity Savings Accounts not only allow you to grow your savings, the charity or good cause you choose to support from our list of Affinity Partners will also benefit from an annual donation from the Society.

The Society’s donation will be calculated on the daily balances held in the Affinity Accounts and paid annually to our Affinity Partners so the more you invest up to the maximum allowable the better.

Our range of Affinity Accounts are limited issues and may be withdrawn without notice at any time.

Our Affinity Partners

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Call us on 01257 235003 or visit www.chorleybs.co.uk

Your savings in this product may be covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, subject to eligibility. For more information contact the Financial Services Compensation Scheme,Tel: 0800 678 1100 or 020 7741 4100 Email: ICT@fscs.org.uk, website: http//:www.FSCS.org.uk Chorley and District Building Society is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Registered on the Financial Services Register under number 206023.

Registered Office: Key House, Foxhole Road, Chorley, Lancashire PR7 1NZ. Your telephone conversations with the Society may be recorded. This is to help the Society to improve customer service and to offer additional security. Calls and electronic communications may also be monitored for staff training.

V3/06/2015.

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46

Get someone

in

I

f you’re a homeowner, one of your biggest worries is how to maintain your property properly.

Everyone is capable of some DIY, but often won’t possess the skills, the time or the confidence to complete the work required; and then, it’s a case of changing the acronym from DIY to GSI (Get Someone In).

Too often though, the process of contacting tradespeople, arranging quotes and being able to check out their past records can be difficult and very time consuming.

What is more, with doorstep crime and rogue trader incidents on the increase in Lancashire, it’s important you make the right choice of tradesperson.

Step forward Lancashire County Council and their Safe Trader Scheme, which has been operating since 2009 and assists residents of Lancashire to find reputable local traders for property repairs, home improvements,

47

gardening services, mobility aids and other services around the home.

Traders registered with the Scheme have all demonstrated their commitment to fair and honest trading by signing up to our Code of Practice and agreeing to work with us to resolve any problems should they occur. Prior to inclusion on the Scheme checks are carried out by Trading Standards Service officers including a visit to the trader’s premises and checks to ensure they are complying with relevant legislation, have necessary insurance policies in place and are members of regulatory bodies they are legally required to be registered with.

Once admitted to the Scheme they will be featured on the Safe Trader website and provided with promotional materials including vehicle stickers and logos to use when doing business.

Although using the scheme doesn’t mean things will never go wrong, members will have agreed to work with Trading Standards if they do go wrong.

The scheme plays an important part in offering consumers a safer alternative to dealing with the pressure that aggressive cold calling traders can put them under to have work done.

In some cases Trading Standards officers manage to track down these rogue traders and prosecute them‌ but in many cases the trader disappears without trace. This is why the Safe Trader register is so important to to many vulnerable consumers who otherwise have nowhere to turn when they want a job doing.

For more information on the Scheme or to search for a local trader visit the website at www. safetrader.org.uk or telephone 0303 333 1111

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The family

I

way

s your child getting a nutritious lunch?

Research shows around 57% of children don’t eat school lunches, meaning many parents are facing the daily chore of buying and preparing packed lunches for their kids.

Indeed, a new survey has found that more than half (55%) of mothers would rather their child has a packed lunch, and six out of 10 mums (66%) think a lunchbox is a healthier alternative to school food.

However, 61% of the mothers questioned for the Organix No Junk Challenge Lunchbox Campaign said they found it difficult to make their child’s lunchbox varied and interesting, and 57% said they needed more advice on what should go in a child’s lunchbox.

And that’s where The Lunchbox Doctor can help.

Jenny Tschiesche runs The Lunchbox Doctor website to provide recipes, lunchbox ideas and nutrition advice, and is supporting the No Junk Challenge, which aims to encourage parents to cook with fresh natural ingredients and to challenge the food industry to remove the ‘junk’ from children’s food.

She says: “We don’t have to put things in lunchboxes when they’re not ideal for our children. Parents can produce something for the same price, or less, than a school meal, using ‘real’ food, and it can be better nutritionally.”

The Organix survey found that sandwiches are the lunchbox staple for 81% of children, and Tschiesche says the typical school lunchbox consists of a white bread sandwich, often with a sweet filling like jam, rather than a protein filling.

“It’s a common mistake to use white bread, and also to not use a protein filling,” she says. “A lot of parents will use jam or chocolate spread because they

know their child will eat it. But there’s no fibre in the white bread, and no protein in the filling, and that combined lack of sustenance means kids are likely to have a burst of energy which might last while they’re running round the playground at lunchtime, but they’ll be suffering an hour or two after that.”

She says that as well as the white bread sandwich, children are often given crisps and a sweet bar, sometimes covered in chocolate, or a dried fruit and cereal bar. She believes we’ve been led to believe these cereal bars are a much healthier prospect, but often the bars have more sugar in them than the sugary cereals.

Tschiesche, a mother-of-two, points out that many children’s lunchboxes also contain yoghurts, but says these often contain ingredients parents might not want their kids to have, such as sugar or artificial sweeteners, colourings and flavourings. All of it’s targeted at convenience. If you’re a parent, you’re busy by definition, and many products say ‘ideal for lunchboxes’. That can mean it’s attractive and colourful for the child, and simple to pack, but it doesn’t mean it’s ideal for your child’s health, wellbeing and sustenance.

49

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Independent Schools Inspectors describe our school and nursery as happy, caring and purposeful. Please visit our website to read their full report.

For more information or to arrange a visit, please contact: 200 Garstang Road, Fulwood, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 8RD.

Tel: 01772 719 937 or 01772 713 630 Email: enquiries@st-piusx.lancs.sch.uk

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50

The survey also found that nearly all mums (97%) want more healthy options for lunchboxes for their children, and 87% think the food industry needs to do more to provide healthy, nutritious food for children.

Instead of processed ‘ideal for lunchbox’ products, Tschiesche suggests parents use “real food” like carrot batons, baby sweetcorn, cucumber sticks or cherry tomatoes, with cream cheese or houmous, as children are much more likely to eat vegetables if they’ve got something to dip them in to.

Crackers or oatcakes are also healthy, easy-to-dip alternatives to bread. And if it has to be a sandwich, go for a protein filling such as egg, cheese, ham, tuna or houmous, with a vegetable like tomato or cucumber. Use wholemeal bread if possible, or try pitta bread or wraps.

Another suggestion is chopping an apple into segments so it’s easier for children to eat, and then putting it back together in its original shape with an elastic band round it, which will help stop the inside going brown. A further idea is to make a warm meal

Tackling

D

like pasta with pesto, baked beans with cheese, or soup with bread, and put it in a wide-necked flask.

And instead of sugary, flavoured yoghurts, try buying natural yoghurt and adding fruit puree.

As for the chocolate biscuit bars and crisps that children often nag for, Tschiesche advises, “Let them have the odd bar occasionally, but give them a smaller version of it, and explain why. Or make your own sweet foods, because you know what you’ve put in it.”

She suggests parents can make putting packed lunches together more fun for kids through lunchbox bingo, where children design their own nutritionally-balanced packed lunches, ticking off the important food groups - protein, carbohydrate, calcium, fruit, vegetable and a drink - on a homemade food ‘bingo card’.

For more information on the No Junk Challenge, visit www.organix.com/nojunk

dyslexia

yslexic people are likely to find learning skills like reading and writing much harder than other people, but they can be helped by careful, systematic teaching.

That’s according to the Dyslexia Association, a registered charity established in 1971 to provide support for dyslexic children and adults. It says there are well-established methods for teaching reading and writing to dyslexic people, and with patience and hard work, they are effective.

A spokesman said: “Dyslexic children learn most easily if their difficulty is identified early, and appropriate teaching methods are introduced, but it’s never too late to start. Dyslexic adults, teenagers and older children benefit from understanding their own individual learning style and pattern of strengths and weaknesses. That way, they can study and work in a way which is most likely to be successful. They can learn strategies appropriate to their learning style.”

For more information, visit ww.dyslexia.uk.net

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54

Catholic

schools

Teachers of the future are being invited to a series of open evenings in the area.

W

igan Catholic Primary School Direct and Wigan & West Lancashire Catholic School Direct are coming to a school near you soon! They’ll be looking to recruit graduates who have the potential of becoming teachers in either a primary or secondary school setting.

Working in partnership with Liverpool Hope University, WCPSD and WWLCSD are able to develop direct training that will have the academic and theoretical underpinning to allow trainees to become outstanding practitioners within the field of education.

A spokesman said: “We are seeking individuals who demonstrate and are able to apply the skills of organisation, flexibility, reflection, evaluation and action to all aspects of the course and their career. Enthusiastic individuals who are able to communicate effectively with pupils, colleagues and parents on a range of levels are essential to our partnership.

Trainees can expect to obtain a PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education) and QTS Qualified Teacher Status by the end of the programme. The PGCE is a 60 credit award that can offer progression, upon successful application, onto a Liverpool Hope University Masters in Education (180 credits in total) for those students who want to pursue further study.

It’s a programme that gives you 120 days minimum in school, including a minimum of 12 days at Liverpool Hope University. There will be access to learning conferences throughout the year where you will meet and work with trainees from across

WCPSD and WWLCSD, and placements across two contrasting schools.

As part of its training programme, students will also complete the first two modules of the Catholic Certificate of Religious Studies.

For more information see the advertisement below.

Do YOU want to teach ?

Then come along to one of our Open Evenings...

Tuesday, 10th October & Tuesday, 1st November St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Wigan All open evenings will be 5:30pm - 7:30pm We are looking for graduates who have the potential to become outstanding primary or secondary school teachers of the future.

Our School Direct teacher training program, accredited

by Liverpool Hope University, leads to a Postgraduate Certificate in Education with Qualified Teacher Status and 60 credits toward a Liverpool Hope Masters in Education.

For further details about primary teacher training visit www.wcpsd.org.uk. For further details about secondary teacher training visit www.catholicsd.org.uk Applications for September 2017 open at the end of October 2016 and can be made via www.UCAS.com (Search for provider codes 2A4 and course code 2XT7)

55

Read to your kids Reading is a vital skill that every parent wants their child to learn, yet almost half of UK mums and dads admit they lack the confidence and know-how to help improve their child’s reading at home.

National Literacy Trust research has found that less than a third of young people read outside school every day, so it’s joined up with the Premier League to run Premier League Reading Stars, an annual initiative which has enlisted the help of 20 Premier League footballers to use children’s passion for football to motivate them to enjoy reading.

Some of the players involved include Frank Lampard, Adam Lallana, Joey Barton and Boaz Myhill. The players have set literacy challenges for participating children, allowing them to unlock statistics, tips and videos from each footballer as they progress through the online programme.

Manchester City midfielder Lampard says: “As a dad, literacy is a cause close to my heart - I love reading

• As children learn to read themselves, consider allowing them to stay up a bit later as a treat - so long as it’s reading time.

For more about Premier League Reading Stars visit www.literacytrust.org.uk and for the 30 Ways in 30 Days guide visit www.leapfrog.com

with my girls, and would really encourage other parents to keep reading with their kids.

And for slightly older children who need more motivation to read, the Reading Stars programme, hopefully combined with a bit of reading with mum or dad, could be exactly what’s needed to spark their interest.

The Reading Stars programme is aimed at children aged between 7 and 15 years, but parents seeking help to improve the reading of younger children may gain inspiration from the new free online guide How to Help Your Child to Read: 30 Ways In 30 Days.

Homework for parents: • Set a daily time to read to your children and try to stick to it.

The Headteacher, Staff and Governors warmly welcome prospective parents and pupils to their

OPEN EVENING Thursday 29th September 5:00pm - 7:30pm

The evening will begin at 5pm with speeches from our Headteacher, Mr Mayland, at 5.15pm and 7pm All prospective parents who cannot attend on the 29th September are welcome to come and see the school during a normal school day between 9:15am - 2:00pm, week commencing 3rd October.

PLEASE MAKE AN APPOINTMENT THROUGH THE SCHOOL OFFICE

• Hang a family message board in the kitchen.

Leave simple notes for one another with plenty of illustrations.

• Plan a family book club - everyone reads the same book (or has it read to them). Then get together over popcorn to discuss the story.

ASPIRING TOGETHER, ACHIEVING TOGETHER

56

Food & Drink

On the road

again

By Jeananne Craig

H

airy Bikers Dave Myers and Si King were determined to throw themselves into the action while their BBC Two road trip series Northern Exposure even if that meant a spot of wife-carrying.

The pair circumnavigated the vast Baltic Sea for the six-part series, which saw them biking and exploring the cuisine of countries including Poland, Sweden, Russia and Finland, where King was persuaded to indulge in a favourite local sport.

“Dave said: ‘I think he would like a go at the wifecarrying’, and I went: ‘Pardon me, WHAT?’” King recalls.

“I disappeared down the boardwalk with this very light and lovely lady attached to my neck going: ‘See you later lads, I am not coming back!’”

The trip had been in the pipeline for a few years, but had to be put on hold after King received emergency treatment for a life-threatening brain aneurysm in 2014.

Today, the 49-year-old dad-of-three is recovering well - although he admits he does have to keep an eye on his fatigue levels, given the high-energy nature of the Bikers’ work.

Myers, meanwhile, says getting back on the road with his pal was “magic... like putting on a pair of comfy shoes” “We’re not trained chefs and we haven’t got a restaurant, but we’ve had the most incredible opportunities to experiment with food,” says Myers.

“It transcends friendship, he’s like my brother. We love each other’s mad foibles,” says King.

“Life brings surprises on a constant daily basis; those surprises are there to make you stronger. You have big life changes, you do, and we know that if either one of us go through that, we will be there to catch each other.”

Want to try a recipe from the The Hairy Bikers’ Meat Feasts? Check out page 60 for one from their cookbook, The Hairy Bikers’ Meat Feasts.

The Hairy Bikers’ Meat Feasts is published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, priced £22 hardback, eBook £12.99.

57

Helen and Stuart offer

you a very warm welcome to the newly refurbished

Dog & Partridge

Serving only the freshest, finest home cooked meals

From 12 till 9pm every day.

Whether it’s a casual lunch, celebration meal or afternoon tea you are looking for then you are guaranteed only the very best!

Fancy a tipple? Then why not sample our vast selection of real ales, whiskeys & premium range of spirits.

We also cater for small parties, baby showers or just a good old get together, so why not check our forthcoming events online & make it a date.

Christmas & New Year bookings now being taken.

Tel 01257 792497 30 Chorley Lane, Charnock Richard, Chorley PR7 5ES

www.thedogandpartridgecharnockrichard.co.uk

58

Taste test

Style and

substance T

he seemingly ever-developing village of Burscough faces an ongoing fight to hang onto what’s left of its heritage so step forward James Kennedy and Gavin Williams with good news. These childhood friends from Parbold who, after the successful launch of their first business, Allotment, a bar in the Northern Quarter of Manchester, have returned nearer home to transform the Old Packet House on Liverpool Road.

Built in 1775, the Old Packet House became an important staging point between the canal and the turnpike road (now the A59). It’s not the first attempt to rejuvenate this building in recent years, but it’s the finest and, it has to be said, the most authentic. The handsome exterior with its blooming flower display is a far cry from the dilapidated pub that it used to be, and the interior has been worked well to highlight the traditional design features of the building.

So my dining partner and I took our table overlooking the canal on a sunny summer’s afternoon wondering if the substance at the new Old Packet House was going to be as impressive as the obvious style.

She’s not long awoken from her Saturday morning lie-in so, my partner kicked off with a proper Lancashire breakfast, in this case black pudding and poached egg on a toasted muffin topped with hollandaise sauce. The large poached egg was cooked to perfection and combined beautifully with the lightly spiced black pudding, whilst the hollandaise sauce was buttery and quite exquisite.

I plump for a starter of a fresh salad containing buffalo mozzarella, beetroot, pine nuts and pesto. The tangy backdrop of the mozzarella merged magnificently with the delicious pesto, with the pine nuts adding texture to the dish. The tasty salad and the vibrant beetroot concluded this deliciously light, colourful and accomplished starter.

Though a committed carnivore, I uncharacteristically opted for the vegetarian dish of Roast Butternut Squash. Almost like bedding someone new, I had no idea what to expect from the dish but it was a complete revelation! The thick slice of butternut

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Out came the quintessential summer pudding of Eton Mess, served a home-made vanilla ice cream, a crumble, a large strawberry and blackberry, and the crowning glory of a milk and white chocolate tuile. Sadly though, it ended up on the other side of the table, and such was the fierce resistance of my dining partner, I didn’t get much of a taste.

squash was cooked perfectly, with succulent flesh topped with a bit of burnt texture. Although I’m unable to get excited about the taste of the quinoa (who can?), the rest of the dish consisted of sun blushed tomato sauce with green beans, black beans, kidney beans, roasted carrots, asparagus and kale, topped with sweet potato shavings. It was delicious, and an absolute delight to eat. Wow! On the other side of the table, my partner was tucking into corn-fed chicken with a balsamic glaze and roasted Chantenay carrots, Ormskirk potatoes and a green bean salad and seemed to be enjoying it as much as I was enjoying my dish. The white flesh of the chicken was beautifully tender, she reported, up there with the most tender she’s ever had, with the taste of balsamic enhancing the scrumptious chicken. The firm new potatoes, tasty carrots and salad were a perfect accompaniment.

However, my disappointment was overcome by my dessert; a pot of blackberry and apple crumble served with a pot of the aforementioned ice cream. Cleverly, the crumble was made of crushed shortbread biscuits, which was gorgeous, and the sweetness of the dessert combined so well with the ice cream. Both desserts were top drawer – an absolute triumph.

Our verdict? - We were delighted at the quality of the food, the imaginative menus and the reasonable pricing at the Old Packet House. They even offer a Lite Bite Menu from Monday to Thursday (12-2 & 5-6.30), for just £6.95 for a single course or £10.50 for two courses. It’s had a few renovations in its time but at the end of the day, a restaurant survives because it has got substance as well as style, and the new Old Packet House has got both in spades.

The Old Packet House, 29 Liverpool Rd North, Burscough L40 5TN 01704 807330 Open Mon-Sat 12pm-11pm, Sun 12pm-10.30pm www.oldpackethouse.co.uk

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Ham and pea

soup

Method Soak the peas overnight in a big bowl of cold water with a pinch of bicarbonate of soda - bicarb helps to soften pulses.

Put the ham hock in a large saucepan, cover it with cold water and bring to the boil. Immediately remove the pan from the heat and drain, discarding the water.

Rinse the ham hock and the saucepan to get rid of any starchy foam that may have accumulated.

Put the hock back in the pan and cover with 1.5-2L of water. Add the onion with cloves, the bay leaves and mace to the pan. It’s a good idea to tie them all in a piece of muslin, but it’s not essential. Just remember they’re there and remove them before blending the soup. Bring the water to the boil and simmer for an hour.

Serves 4-6 Ingredients 300g split peas (green are traditional for this Finnish recipe, but yellow are fine) Pinch of bicarbonate of soda 1 small ham hock 1 onion, stuck with 2 cloves 2 bay leaves 1 blade of mace 1 onion, diced 1 carrot, diced 1tbsp hot mustard 100ml whipping or double cream (optional) Freshly ground black pepper

Drain the split peas and rinse them well. Put them in a separate saucepan, cover with water and bring them to the boil, then boil hard for 10 minutes. Drain and add the split peas to the pan with the ham hock, along with the diced onion and carrot. Simmer until the peas are tender - this will take about 45 minutes to an hour.

Check the water level regularly and add a little extra if necessary - the soup shouldn’t be too thick.

Using tongs, fish the ham hock out of the pan and remove the onion, bay leaves and mace. Set the ham aside until it’s cool enough to handle, then break it up, pulling the meat into pieces and discarding the skin and bone.

Add the mustard to the soup, check the seasoning and add some black pepper to taste - you shouldn’t need any salt because of the ham. Blend to a rough puree - a quick whizz with a stick blender is all you need then add some of the ham to the soup and warm it through. Lightly whip the cream, if using, and gently fold it into the soup, then garnish with the remaining ham and serve.

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Eating out

guide Shaw Hill Golf & Spa Hotel

Old Packet House

Summer afternoon tea, set in an idyllic setting. Join us for our renown afternoon teas. Starting from £17.95 per person. To book call us on 01257 269221.

01257 269221 Whittle Le Woods, Chorley, PR6 7PP shaw-hill.co.uk

A beautiful historic pub overlooking the canal. Whether you’re after a quick lunch, sophisticated evening meal, cask ales or cocktails, value and quality is guaranteed.

01704 807330 29, Liverpool Road North, Burscough, L40 5TN oldpackethouse.co.uk

Advertise

here £30 + VAT

Call 01257 498329 The Stocks Tavern Warmest and friendliest of welcomes with award winning chef Mike Heap, who uses only the finest, freshest, local ingredients to ensure you leave completely satisfied.

01257 462874 16, Alder Lane, Parbold, WN8 7NN thestockstavern.co.uk

The Paddock Informal dining in Wrightington.

Locally sourced, freshly made food served daily. Theme nights with live entertainment. In house butcher and fruit & veg shop.

01257 426514 Derby House, Mossy Lea Rd, Wrightington, WN6 9RE thepaddockrestaurant.co.uk

Advertise

here £48 + VAT

Call 01257 498329

62

Events & Leisure

What’s

on Animal Magic

Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th September

Blackpool Illuminations Friday 2nd September – Sunday 6th November Autumn just wouldn’t be the same without a trip to Blackpool’s world famous Northern Lights. Hop aboard an open top tram for the clearest views of the lights, relax in a horse drawn carriage as a romantic treat or simply walk the 10km along the front with your bag of fish and chips!

Blackpool Promenade, Lancashire, FY1 5BD www.blackpool-illuminations.net

Leigh Film Festival 2016 Saturday 24th September Come and experience an unforgettable night of new and exciting film screenings at the Turnpike Centre in Leigh. Doors open at 6pm with bar and refreshments available throughout the evening.

The films will be shown between 7pm and 9pm, the evening finishes with an after show party and a live online vote for the winner of the Audience Choice Award. Tickets are £5 and available online.

Turnpike Gallery, Civic Square, Leigh WN7 1EB www.leighfilmfestival.com

Martin Mere Wetland Centre in Burscough will be hosting their enormously popular Animal Magic weekend on these days. In addition to existing attractions, there will be the chance to meet an armadillo, baby crocodiles, wallabies, meerkats, chameleons, alpacas, snakes, bearded dragons, owls, eagles and vultures! Book online to save 10%.

9.30am-6pm Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Fish Lane, Burscough L40 0TA www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/martin-mere/

North West Vintage Rally Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th September Free family day out for all the family at Victoria Park in Widnes. The largest event of its kind in the UK, this rally has hundreds of classic cars and bikes, plus miniature steam engines, model boats, a vintage funfair and the Spitfire Grand Display team.

10am-5pm Victoria Park, Widnes WA8 7SX www.northwestvintagerally.co.uk

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Euxton Family Festival Weekend

Chorley Live 2016

Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th September

Let your hair down with a fantastic weekend of live entertainment in the heart of Chorley. Music and comedy performances on the hour from 7pm10pm at 30 venues across the town. Entry is via a wristband that costs £5 which gets you in every venue over both nights and under 12s go free.

Various venues/times Find ‘Chorley Live 2016’ on Facebook

An exciting new two day family festival being held at the Euxton Cricket Club on Southport Road, near Chorley. Featuring live bands, tribute acts, children’s entertainers, family entertainment, a food festival, stalls, a funfair and more.

Saturday 12pm-10pm Sunday 12pm-8pm Balshaw Park, Southport Road, Euxton, PR7 6DD

Friday 7th & Saturday 8th October

Southport British Musical Fireworks Championship

King Lear – RSC Live

Friday, 30th Sept, Sat 1st Oct, Sun 2nd Oct

The latest in a series of plays which are performed at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratfordupon-Avon, and broadcast live to cinemas and theatres throughout the UK. Antony Sher returns to play King Lear, one of the greatest parts written by Shakespeare.

7pm start Arts Centre – Edge Hill University

International standard displays from some of the best pyrotechnic companies in the UK over a three night period. The fireworks are synchronised and choreographed to music and a story unfolds with every 15-20 minute display. Watch the sky over Southport become an array of colours. Tickets start from £7, children under 5 go free.

Victoria Park, Southport PR8 2BZ www.visitsouthport.com/whats-on/southportfireworks

Wednesday 12th October

The Family Pet Show Saturday, 1st & Sunday 2nd October The Family Pet Show (the only indoor Pet Show that you can bring your pet to) includes dog agility displays, a mini-farm, fun dog shows and lots more.

With four main interactive areas of watch, play, learn & have a go, plus areas for all pets in dog world, cat world, furries world, bird world & exotic world there is something for every pet lover.

9.30am to 5.00pm Adult, £9, Child, £7 Event City, Phoenix Way, Manchester, M41 7TB www.thefamilypetshow.co.uk

Southport Comedy Festival Thursday 13th to Sunday 23rd October Headline acts from across the World of Comedy, including Russell Kane, Jason Byrne, Sean Kelly and Jo Caulfield descend on Southport for 11 days of hilarity, with over 40 events in 30 venues across the town. As well as classic stand-up, there are children’s shows and free events, squeaky clean shows and the Southport New Comedian of the Year competition.

Various venues/times/prices www.southportcomedyfestival.com

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North West Food Lovers Festival Friday 21st-Sunday 23rd October 2016

Disney On Ice presents Frozen Thursday 13th to Sunday 16th October 2016 Enter a fantastical winter wonderland beyond imagination when Disney On Ice presents a full length production of Frozen on ice at Manchester Arena. Be magically whisked away to wintry Arendelle by dazzling special effects and astonishing skating as you sing and dance along to inspiring songs including “Let It Go.” 17:30pm Manchester Arena, Manchester, M3 1AR

Wigan & Leigh Hospice Fundraiser Friday 14th October The famous Irish comedian Jimmy Cricket headlines a Wigan and Leigh Hospice fundraiser at St James’ Social Centre in Orrell on Friday, October 14. Jimmy came to fame when he won TV’s Search For A Star in the 1980s, and was recently awarded a Papal Knighthood.

Supported by Gerry Sandon with music from the ‘50s and ‘60s, and also by local musician and compere Andy Crawford, Jimmy will run through his comic repertoire at the event. Tickets price includes a hot pot supper.

Tickets £12 St James’ Social Centre St James’ Road, Orrell, Wigan WN5 7AA 01695 623902

Over 100 food and drink suppliers all within a massive super structure marquee set in the grounds of Tatton Park. Once you buy your tickets (kids under 12 free), you can then go to as many cooking demonstrations as you like. Your children can take in the Kids Cooking classes, you take the foraging walks, talk, try and buy from any of over 100 exhibitors and while away the time with coffee or glass of wine while enjoying some of the best foods on offer anywhere.

Friday 12pm-5pm & Saturday-Sunday 10pm-5pm Tatton Park, Knutsford WA16 6QN www.nwfoodloversfestival.co.uk

The Tinderbox Sunday 23rd October Norwich Puppet Theatre Company presents the classic Hans Christian Anderson tale using puppetry animation and music. This event is suitable for children 4+ and their families.

2pm The Citadel, Waterloo Street, St Helens, WA10 1PX www.citadel.org.uk

Jimmy Carr Saturday 29 Oct 2016 Jimmy is gathering a selection of his very best jokes along with brand new material for the ultimate comedy show.

8pm Preston Guild Hall & Charter Theatre PR1 1HT Contact telephone: 01772 80 44 44 www.prestonguildhall.com

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Twopence to Cross The Mersey The new stage play version of Helen Forrester’s Twopence to Cross the Mersey is performed at a number of NW venues this autumn. This much loved account tells the true story of a young girl and her formerly wealthy family as they are suddenly thrown into the poverty-stricken slums of Liverpool during the Great Depression of the 1930’s.

Preston Charter Theatre PR1 1HT Wednesday 19th to Saturday 22nd October Contact telephone: 01772 804444 Southport Theatre & Convention Centre PR9 ODZ Monday 24th to Thursday 27th October

Great Selection of Vintage & New Guitars One-to-One Music Lessons, Guitar Set-Ups & Repairs

Gift Vouchers Available

T: 01257 426 514

Tel: 07590 984773

The Paddock, Derby House, Mossy Lea Road, Wrightington, Wigan, WN6 9RE

www.blackstonemusic.co.uk

www.thepaddockrestaurant.co.uk E: bookings@thepaddockrestaurant co.uk

Heskin Farmers Market & Craft Centre, Wood Lane, Heskin PR7 5PA

66

sponsored by

Ashurst’s Beacon &

Dalton

by David Sudworth

A

utumn is possibly the best time of year to pull on the walking boots. The leaves are turning a golden colour, the weather is mild and nature’s bounty is in full flow, with conkers, acorns and fir cones covering the ground. So it was in high spirits we headed towards Ashurst’s Beacon (near Up Holland for this month’s walk of just under 4 miles.

No sooner had we parked the Local Life charabanc and Jack, as per usual, was raring to go. We chose a car park just opposite The Beacon Inn pub (WN8 7RR), fronting onto the golf course, which gave us a sneak preview of the views to come, as well as

giving Jack a few minutes to find his ‘fetch’ stick from the undergrowth. Walking boots on and armed with copious energy-boosting chocolate bars, we crossed the road and headed toward Ashurst’s Beacon. The pathway towards the monument is just to the left of the pub and not signposted. Once at the top we had an early treat; stunning 180 degree views from Cheshire in the south to Blackpool Tower in the north. The wind was blowing quite a bit, and had a distinctive autumnal chill, but it wasn’t enough to distract us. To give some perspective of distance, Dalton Parish Council’s 100 year centenary

67

stone, just a bit further up, advises that standing at the top of the Beacon, we are five miles from Wigan Parish Church, 27 miles to the Bowland Fells and 84 miles to the Isle of Man. We started the walk from the Beacon itself, but you need to have your wits about you as the paths aren’t immediately obvious. We had to walk in a north westerly direction towards the woodland. As a rule, If you can see Blackpool Tower, basically you need to head towards that, and the informal pathway will become apparent.

Once in the woods, we were greeted with a floor scattered with pine cones. Having picked up a few for my six-year-old daughter, we headed westwards and eventually hit a cobbled footpath with fields on either side. Around five minutes later, continuing eastwards, we cross a stile onto a bit of a grass clearing and an old stone house, complete with a rather large, solid wooden gate. If you turn around you should see some sort of rusted farm machinery at the boundary of the grassland. We bore left down the side of the house and carried straight on. What greeted us at the end of the path was a beautiful 17th Century stone dovecot, which as we discovered was restored by the North West

Buildings Preservation Trust in 1985. Alongside this was a small pond and trees groaning with conkers and acorns. Suffice to say, being a big kid at heart, I started hoovering these up in anticipation of being able to use my haul to stage a mass conker challenge back at Local Life Towers. However, Jack being a dog and therefore having no interest in conker fights was in no mood to hang around so headed off towards the car park of the magnificent St Michael & All Angels Church. The church faces the equally impressive and historic Ashurst’s Hall, a Grade II listed building which was originally the seat of the Ashurst family. Coming out of the car park, we took a right past the primary school and down Higher Lane. Before long, the pleasing sound of acorns crunching underfoot was ringing in our ears – they were all over the place and to be honest my heart sank a little when I saw the street sweeper a little further down the road. Before I became too disheartened, we peeled off rightwards onto a tree-lined Dungeon Lane, where we came across some very colourful wild, but I am advised highly poisonous, mushrooms. As a seasoned walker, Jack didn’t pay much attention to the various fungi on display but for a novice like myself, I couldn’t resist whipping out my lens for a quick photo op. At the end of the lane, we turned left and then around 50 yards down we turned right. Now admittedly, at first we were hesitant as it looked very much like a private driveway (signage says Blackbird’s Farm/ Lees Lane Nursery/Mobility Store) but according to our trusty Ordnance Survey map, it was a public footpath so went down it. Towards the rear of the property, we saw the all-important way markers and a stile so headed over it.

Eventually we came to a field and spotted a bridge over the River Douglas in the distance.

However, before that, we had a challenge we just couldn’t avoid – a

68

field full of cows. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love animals but these cows were a bit too friendly for my liking. Jack didn’t seem to mind them and pleasantly sauntered off like he was on a Sunday stroll. I, on the other hand, hot-footed it towards the bridge. Once safely out of harm’s way, we headed off towards the Leeds-Liverpool canal. We went over a stile and ended up at what felt, again, to be

Parbold

Lee d

& Li

verp

ool

like private property with some well- tended grass and bushes adorning the landscape. Just to the right was a rather pleasant and unexpected feature of this walk, a memorial stone showing the site of the Old Douglas Chapel, which existed for 400 years Hill Parbold before being demolished in 1875. The memorial A5209 cross is carved from the old church’s threshold stone, and erected in 1906 as a lasting memory of

Can a

l

Old Douglas Chapel Cross

River Do

uglas

Blackbird’s Farm

Lan

e

Le e

nge

on

sL

an

e

Du

Lower House Farm Lees Lane

Dalton her

Hig e

Lan eys

H ng

e

Lan

Lo Deacon Lane

Ashurst’s Hall

De

aco

nL

ane

Ashurst’s Beacon

Start/Finish

Skelmersdale

Please ensure you wear appropriate clothing and footwear whilst walking. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the walk is accurate, neither the publisher or its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or other cause.

69

somewhere which was clearly an important focal point for this rural community. Once past the stone, and a cluster of old dwellings, we carried on, taking the towpath on the Dalton side heading towards Wigan. Although he maintained his usual ice-cool exterior throughout, I suspect the recent bovine drama must have caused Jack some anxiety as he decided to crouch down by the canal and take some hearty slurps to quench his very sudden thirst. Once suitably refreshed, we started to head back, over the Douglas and headed towards Keckle Hey Wood.

the energy sapping gradient I was about to embark upon, I cracked open one of my choccie bars and steeled myself for the challenge. I’ve no idea how Jack – at this point on his lead due to the frequency of vehicles using the road - managed it without refuelling but he did. After about 10 minutes or so, we spotted a small path off to the right and headed down it. Cross the driveway to Bradshaw Farm and Bradshaw Barn and head off again into the wooded area which adjoins the properties. Before long, the pathway comes out near the Beacon and, five miles later, the walk was complete.

The pathway went past a few barn conversions on the right, before emerging on to Lees Lane. Going left, it was a short walk before we turned up the track opposite Lower House Farm. We headed up through Wigan Lane Wood and started to get some lovely views towards Standish, with Winter Hill in the distance. We continued heading southwards before taking a right onto Long Heys Lane. It’s at this point the walk becomes quite steep so, in anticipation of

All in all this was a very enjoyable afternoon. Due to the informal nature of some of the pathways, and some possible confusion which can arise due to lack of signage, you do need to keep your wits about you. But the rewards are plentiful; beautiful buildings, historical points of interest, stunning views. And If that doesn’t grab you, then there’s always the lure of a pocket full of free conkers…

70

Test drive

Ford

Kuga

T

1.5T Ecoboost

by Tim Barnes-Clay

he Kuga came on to the scene in 2008. Built in two-wheel-drive and fourwheel-drive it was Ford’s response to SUVs, such as the Nissan Qashqai. It was also built to challenge more established 4x4s, such as the Honda CR-V.

While it is no rocket ship, the Kuga 1.5T Ecoboost, on test here, does pick up pace fairly well (0-62mph in 9.7s) and feels particularly nippy around town. Its manual six-speed gearbox has a positive, smooth, action and the Ford delivers a relaxing, yet well-ordered ride at low speeds.

The steering is light and direct – and this makes city driving and parking a breeze. Alas, there is far too much din in the road and wind noise department for the Kuga to be a serious motorway vessel. Safety is first-rate, though, with side and curtain airbags helping it achieve a five-star Euro NCAP crash-test result.

Inside, the Kuga is quite spacious in the front, but its plunging roofline intrudes on headroom for taller passengers in the rear. Legroom for anyone approaching six-feet tall is also limited, however it’s a fine area for kids to sit comfortably. The 406-litre boot is bigger than the Ford Focus’ 316-litre offering – making the loading of a bulky pushchair and the weekly supermarket shopping even less of a hassle.

As alluded to earlier, the Kuga’s key rival is the Nissan Qashqai, with other opponents including the Kia Sportage and Volkswagen Tiguan. All of their boots are even bigger than the Ford’s by some margin.

71

In fairness, though, the Ford Kuga Zetec 1.5T EcoBoost makes a good buy. It offers a decent mix of performance and size for families looking for a school-run-mobile. It is also front-wheel-drive - and this variant is really what you should try and get, unless you are desperate for 4x4 traction and off-road ability.

Front-wheel-drive Kugas are a little bit cheaper to run than the fourwheel-drive versions and, if buying used, may well have been better cared for.

The current Kuga is smart enough and has a generally reliable history, although it is starting to come over as a tad dated – but at least it’s a safe car.

Fortunately, we won’t have too long to wait for a fresh Kuga. The Blue Oval hopes to fight the BMW X3 with a chicer, more elegant version of the SUV at the end of this year.

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72

Scaling the

peaks

Four Chorley friends raised around £800 towards a piece of lifesaving equipment.

Antony Holmes, Jan Montwill, Jason Adams and Emma Hill scaled the Yorkshire Three Peaks; Peny-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in just 12 hours to fund a community defibrilator.

The kit, which is used on people who have had heart attacks, will be installed at Birkacre Garden Centre, on Birkacre Road.

Emma, who along with the others works at the centre, said: “The weather was generally kind to us on the day, but unfortunately we had no views from the top of each mountain due to the mist. We all had a great day and we left to go home feeling exhausted but elated.”

Emma added: “We have raised approximetely £800 so far for the cause thanks to the generosity of customers and supporters. However we still need

Gary Mulvaney

Dog Trainer Train for Fun – Skills for Life • Puppy/Dog Training • 1-2-1 Instruction • Behavioural problems 07754 003 021 or 01257 252232

Antony Holmes, Jan Montwill, Emma Hill and Jason Adams to raise a little more to buy & install the Defibrillator, so it can be of use in an emergency by visitors of the garden centre as well as visitors to Yarrow Valley Country Park visitor centre and anyone who needs it in and around the area.”

Watercolour classes Watercolour painting classes are held every Tuesday at St. George’s Church Hall, Halliwell Street, Chorley, from 2 pm (setting up from 1.30pm) to 4 pm. The cost is £7 per week, pay on the day. For information, telephone Dave on 01257 261729.

www.garymulvaney.co.uk

01257 367550 01257 276517 10, Mill Street, Coppull, Chorley, PR7 5AZ

23, Crown Street, Chorley, PR7 1DX

www.pinewoodvets.co.uk

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Is Your Furry Friend

I

fit or fat?

s your cat a little cuddly? Does you dog devour all in its path? Or is your rabbit a little round?

They aren’t alone- In 2014, a study by the PDSA found that 80% of vets believe obesity is on the rise amongst pets.

Why is this trend worrying? Whilst watching Fido gobble down some leftovers might seem like harmless fun, obesity is a welfare issue which can have serious consequences. Overweight pets place extra strain on their joints, heart and lungs and are at increased risk of high blood pressure and diabetes. Not only this, but obesity can affect your pet’s enjoyment of life, their ability to exercise and play. As a vet, it is heartwrenching to know that an animal may be suffering, at least in part, because of an entirely preventable issue.

How can obesity be prevented?

Whilst some breeds are predisposed to being a little porky, as in humans, maintaining a healthy weight usually comes down to eating a good diet and getting plenty of exercise. Feeding a good quality appropriate diet, without too many treats, is important. Try to keep up a good exercise regime for dogs (it’ll keep you fitter too!).

With house cats and rabbits encourage play time by regularly rotating toys so they don’t get bored.

For outside cats, “please don’t feed me” collars are available for scavengers!

If you’re unsure, ask your vet (many run free of

charge obesity clinics). Luckily, when it comes to our pets, we can exercise control over what food they do get – even though finding the will power to resist those big, beautiful eyes can be tricky! We promise that they (and your vet) will thank you in the end.

74

Home Services

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01257 498 329

Puzzle

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All types of Joinery and Property Repairs Doors Flooring upvc Windows Home Improvements and maintenance est over 35 yrs No job too small

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75 Got An Electrical Problem...

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01257 402045

or 07702 360597 www.ParkinsonDecorators.co.uk

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• Renovations • Brickwork • Re-roofing • Fencing• Patios • Pointing • Paving • Soffits & fascias • Driveways • Property repairs & maintenance • Damp Proofing & control

Local Life is now welcomed into 130,000 quality homes in;

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Wigan, Chorley, Warrington, St Helens, Leigh & West Lancs

Tel: 01772 459873 Mob: 07886 236564

Email: darrenfinney@msn.com

www.darrenfinneybuilders.co.uk

Little mags, BIG reach

Totall Property Maintenance & Repairs Roofing & Roofline Extensions & Porches Decorating, Tiling & Plastering Windows, Doors & Conservatories Landscaping, Decking & Fencing For a Totall solution to your maintenance and repairs, call Dave

07598 492 087 01257 277 273 (answerphone) All work guaranteed

All plastering work undertaken including: • All types of rendering • Skimming • Dry lining • Basement tanking

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Top tips

Painting

walls

A

wall colour you don’t like is hard to live with, so choosing the right colour for the room is imperative. Printed colour charts aren’t accurate, so don’t rely on them, and the same is true of paint colours viewed online, so use sample pots. It’s a good idea to apply a little of a new colour to each wall, so you get the full effect and can see how it looks at different times of the day.

Use an online paint calculator (www.diy.com) to work out how much paint is needed per room. These calculators take into account the size of the walls, windows and doors, but not the state of the walls themselves.

It’s obviously better to have too much emulsion than not enough, as long as you can return it - most DIY stores will refund unused tins .Sometimes, the same colour can change slightly between batches of paint, especially with paints that use natural pigments, so not buying enough in the first place can be disastrous. New plaster should be sealed first to make it less absorbent.

The colour you use can also affect how much emulsion you need. Pale colours may not cover as well as dark ones, and if you’re painting new plaster with pale emulsion, there may be patches you can’t cover easily - use a stain-block paint or a basecoat emulsion on these.

Basecoat emulsions, which are white and cover better than most standard emulsions, are useful if the emulsion you’re using isn’t covering well. If you’re painting over dark walls with a pale colour, for example, you’ll save time, effort and paint by applying a basecoat first.

As soon as you start applying an emulsion, you’ll be able to see how well it covers and get an idea of how many coats you’ll need. More paint will be needed to cover textured wallpaper and lumpy and bumpy walls than smooth ones. Some emulsions cover better than others and it’s worth paying more for a good quality paint that provides excellent coverage than having a substandard job to show for all your hard work.

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