Local Life - St Helens - Jan/Feb 2022

FR

LocalLife

EE

St Helens Edition

Jan/Feb 2022

WIN Sai2n2ts 20

Memberships

Go Active in 2022 Pages 38-43

Win Ed Byrne Tickets!

Page 30

Reduce your Meat Intake Pages 16-17

Adventure of a Lifetime Pages 34-36

LOCAL NEWS | EVENTS2GO | FOOD | HEALTH | walks | competitions | home & garden SERVICES

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A

s I sit here re-writing this on the 16th December, the nation’s plans for Christmas are quickly disintegrating due to the new Covid variant. I hope that, by the time this magazine reaches you, you’ll be looking back at an enjoyable Christmas period which wasn’t as disastrous as many initially feared.

Right now, my heart sinks for those local businesses who have again had Christmas obliterated by events out of their control. During the lockdowns, many local businesses went over and above to help those customers who needed their products and services. Many attracted new customers as a result, but as the pandemic eased, these customers drifted away.

Once the wave recedes and restrictions lift this year, please consider #shoplocal as your resolution for the new year. Whilst variants of this damn virus come and go, many vulnerable people need local businesses to survive and thrive, so please #shoplocal when you can.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year.

Chris Pearce, Publisher chrisp@locallife247.co.uk

Keep in touch with the LocalLife Team!

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Telephone: 01744 649722 info@locallife247.co.uk

locallifemagazine247 @locallifemedia Local Life 247 Ltd, PO Box 779, Wigan WN1 9UB Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication 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. No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced without the prior written consent of Local Life 247 Ltd.

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This month’s highlights

Contents

38. Go Active in 2022

10. Beauty Resolutions you’ll want to keep!

14. Recipe Chilli and lemon seafood spaghetti.

18. Tech Now we’re cooking.

19. Baking Blueberry custard tarts.

24. Education

16. Reducing Meat Intake

30. Win Ed Byrne Tickets

Choosing a nursery.

26. Health Is sitting the new smoking?

46. Home Fresh new year & choosing neutrals.

64. Puzzle Pages Try these brainteasers for size!

52. Win 2022 Saints Memberships

70. Home & Garden Services Find the best local traders for you.

34. Icelandic Adventure

66. JT to Darwen Moor

Next Issue - Mar/Apr 2022

Advertising deadline - 16th February Published - 2nd March

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LocalLife?

01744 649722 www.locallife247.co.uk

6

New Choristers Appeal If pursuing a new pastime is on your list of New Year’s resolutions, you might be interested to know that Haydock Male Voice Choir are looking for potential new members?

This award-winning choir were founded just after the First World War and they celebrate their centenary next year in 2023.

No previous experience is required from new members and it’s an excellent opportunity to boost your singing skills. Other benefits include the chance to get fitter and healthier, and to have some fun along the way with this friendly group.

The choir rehearse on Tuesdays at Haydock Conservative Club and on Thursdays at the United Reform Church in St Helens.

You can check out some audio of their performances on www.haydockmvc.com. For more information about rehearsals call 07742 312565 or email secretary@ haydockmvc.com.

Hamper Winner The competition to win a Lancashire Day hamper, featured in the Nov/Dec issue of Local Life was won by Georgina WildingPlatt from Bushey Lane in Rainford.

Here’s Georgina pictured with her twin daughters, Nyla and Eliza. Thank you to all who entered.

In this issue, we have two competitions for you! You can win a pair of Saints 2022 Memberships worth over £600 – check out pages 52 and 53.

And on page 30, we have a competition to win a pair of tickets to the Ed Byrne concert at St Helens Theatre Royal on 25th January.

LEADING LOCAL SPECIALISTS 25 HARDSHAW STREET, ST HELENS, WA10 1RP 2 DERBY STREET, PRESCOT, L34 3LJ

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Time to Talk The Time to Talk Day, an initiative that encourages everyone to talk about their mental health, takes place this year on Thursday 3rd February 2022. The day is about creating supportive communities by having conversations with family, friends, or colleagues about mental health.

Seneley Green Parish Council, and in particular Cllr Pete Peers and their Health & Wellbeing Group working alongside Kate Andrews, a Mental Health Professional at Garswood Surgery, will be leading the way by hosting an event for Time to Talk Day. The event will take place, subject to Government & NHS England regulations at the time, on Thursday 3rd February between 10am-1pm at Seneley Green Community Hall on Billinge Road in Garswood.

The Parish Council is also open to facilitating further events for people suffering with their mental health and their friends and families. For details about this and a list of mental health support agencies, please visit the website www.seneleygreenparishcouncil.org.uk.

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New Hall for Billinge PC After almost 3 years of negotiation, Billinge Chapel End Parish Council has secured the purchase of the former Methodist Church in the centre of the village. The site of the former Public Hall on Pingot Road will be developed into two bungalows.

The new Public Hall is next to the Millennium Garden which the Parish Council already owns. The small graveyard on the site of the church will be maintained by the Parish Council.

At the first Parish Council meeting at the new Public Hall, Parish Chair Cllr Dennis Mc Donnell said “This is an historic occasion and I sincerely hope that, in a hundred years’ time, our successors in the Parish Council will be celebrating the centenary of the site”.

He also thanked the Councillors for their efforts to secure the site and, in particular, the previous Parish Clerk, Tom Kelly and present Clerk Hazel Broatch.

The Parish Council will be consulting with residents on proposals to develop the site for community needs.

Any suggestions or ideas would be welcome for consideration as part of the process. The Parish Council meets at 7.30 pm on the third Monday of every month.

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9

Class of 20/21 The outstanding achievements of over 180 students from University Centre St Helens were celebrated at St Helens Parish Church. Graduates from the class of 2020 and 2021 put on their caps and gowns before processing through the town centre led by the Parr Band, Valley Brass Band and Town Crier, bringing Saturday morning shoppers to a standstill.

At the ceremony, Simon Pierce, the CEO and Principal of SK College Group, introduced motivational speaker and published author, Andy Grant. Andy, a former Royal Marine, who was severely injured by an IED that left him with life changing injuries during his service in Iraq and Afghanistan, told graduates: “As you enter the next stage of your life, try to remember life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.”

Each year, St Helens Rotary Club present an award to a graduate who has demonstrated dedication and commitment in overcoming adversity to obtain their qualification. This year’s winner was Joanna Leech, who graduated from FdSc Applied Microbiology with a distinction. Joanna managed to find the time to study,

alongside working full-time and juggling family life.

Special recognition for outstanding achievements was also awarded to graduates; Ashutosh Neerunjun Mohun, Jessica Denson, Lucy Kelly, Priya Luxmee Murphy, William Hayes and Christine Moles.

Those people considering a career change, or looking for career progression can apply now for 2022 entry on a range of full and part-time degree courses, including flexible evening study. Visit www.sthelens.ac.uk/ucsh for further information.

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7 Easy

You’ll want to keep

Supercharge your bath Who doesn’t love a soak in the bath on a cold winter’s night? Make yours a treat for your skin and senses with a handful of fragranced bath salts. Dove’s are a good choice. They’re made from pure sea salt to ease aching muscles, with added natural moisturisers to boost hydration. And you have a choice of three aromatherapyinspired fragrances, at £6.99 from www.boots.com and www. superdrug.com.

Use SPF Your skin doesn’t need to be at risk of burning to be damaged by UV rays. So it’s important to protect it all year around. A good facial sunscreen shouldn’t feel greasy or block pores.

Alternatively, you can just opt for a moisturiser with added SPF, but to get the full benefit, you may need to use more than usual.

Give your nails a break Gels and acrylics are great, but your nails do need a rest now and then to recuperate. If your nails are feeling brittle, file them short

to reduce the risk of breakage. Treat them to a weekly nail-strengthening treatment and a daily cuticle oil. If you want some colour, choose a gentle nail polish. Nailberry polishes (£15, www.nailberry.co.uk) are breathable and free from alcohol, phthalates and harsh chemicals.

Treat your hair If you struggle to find the time for a weekly hair mask, try an overnight one. JOICO’s Defy Damage Sleepover Treatment contains moringa seed oil to add shine and softness, along with other natural ingredients that help to strengthen hair and protect it from further damage. It’s non-greasy and you don’t even need to rinse it out the following morning. It costs £20 at www.lookfantastic.com.

Try something new It’s all too easy to get stuck in a beauty rut. If you fancy trying something new, book yourself in for a skin consultation or mini makeover at a cosmetics counter. Or visit a few counters and ask for their recommendations. You could also sign up for a beauty box subscription, like those by Birchbox, Glossy

Box and Look Fantastic, which will give you the chance to sample lots of different brands.

Switch to green beauty It’s simpler than you might think to make more eco-conscious choices. To start with, look for easily recyclable, zero-waste packaging.

Check that the brands you use are certified cruelty-free. And swap disposable products for reusable ones, such as a bamboo razors, refillable deodorants and washable cleansing pads. To make life easier, buy from retailers that have strict eco policies, like www.biggreensmile. com, www.naturalcollection.com and www.lovelula.com.

Feed your skin Boost a healthy diet with a vitamin supplement. Manifesto’s Beauty gummies (£39.90, www.manifestonutrition.co) are a good choice as they’re packed with vitamins and antioxidants and taste great. The hero ingredient is astaxanthin, which has been found to improve skin’s elasticity. There’s also zinc, biotin and Vitamin A to help strengthen your hair and nails, collagen boosting Vitamin C, and other ingredients your skin will thank you for.

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Wedding Fayre

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If you heard the sound of wedding bells last Christmas and Santa left an engagement ring for you under the tree, then you’ll be interested in the Bridal Fayre that takes place on Sunday, January 30 at the stunning Lancashire Manor Hotel on Prescott Road, Pimbo, near Skelmersdale.

This is a great chance to view everything on offer, including the beautiful banqueting suites and bridal suites. There will also be a chance to have a chat with the team’s preferred suppliers who can help you with everything from photography, venue dressing, hair, make-up, entertainment and not forgetting the allimportant bridal gown!

On the day there will be a fashion show put together by Trudy Smith Bridal Boutique, to give you all the latest ideas and trends in bridal gowns and grooms wear.

Pop down between 12-3pm on the day and make your wedding dreams a reality.

For more information, please call the hotel on 01695 567260.

30 Years for Anne A Prescot music teacher is celebrating 30 years of coaching some of the area’s brightest prospects.

Make her day special with a gift of flowers!

ine’s t n e l Va Day ary u r b e F 14th 01744 885 363

National & International

29 Church Road, Rainford, WA11 8HE Open: Monday - Saturdays, 8.30am - 5.30pm www.wendysflowers.co.uk

Anne Turner, from Columbia Road, teaches piano, voice, keyboard and music theory in everything from folk to music theatre and classical.

Since 2011, Anne has also taken up the role of Music Director for several local singing groups, many of whom have taken part in charity events, raising money for good causes, and promoting health and wellbeing through music.

Anne said, “I’m pleased to have served the local community for so many years and would like to thank students past and present for their loyal and continued support.”

To contact Anne, call 0151 4266606, 07767 815916 or email j.anneturner@btinternet.com

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Madness Return The Jockey Club Live have announced three 2022 dates for the return of their popular live music nights at Haydock Park Racecourse. Paloma Faith will be appearing on Friday 1st July, Olly Murs will return on Friday 5th August and iconic 80’s band Madness will be appearing on Saturday 16th July.

2021 saw a season of incredible live shows at The Jockey Club racecourses, ranging from a sold-out show for Tom Jones at Haydock Park to an afternoon of joyful singalongs with McFly at Newmarket Racecourses.

Despite the challenges of staging a season in 2021, the events marked the return to live music for thousands of fans.

Having last headlined at Haydock in 2015, Madness have become one of the music industry’s best loved British bands. Fronted by the charismatic Suggs, Madness’ ability to write songs that sparkle with the stuff of British life, that find poetry in everyday reality, has led them to their many hits.

Tickets for the events at Haydock Park are now available at www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/live/

Available 2nd January - 28th February 2022

BOOK ONLINE O NLY | S H E R D L E Y P A R K G O L F C O U R S E . C O M 01744 813 149 | info@theparkbarandkitchen.com | Sherdley Park Golf Course, St Helens WA9 5DE *Discount not available in conjunction with any other offers.

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Chilli & Lemon Seafood Spaghetti Serves: 4 Ready in: 20 mins

On the table in less than 30 minutes, this is a a great speedy supper to serve any day of the week. Serve with slices of toasted ciabatta and a rocket salad.

Ingredients

Method

400g spaghetti 2 tbsp virgin olive oil 2 garlic cloves, crushed Small pinch of dried crushed chillies 2 whole dried chillis, halved lengthways Zest and juice of 1 large lemon 100ml dry white wine 150g raw king prawns 150g squid rings, thawed if frozen Handful fresh mussels, cleaned (see TIP) 2 tbsp fresh finely chopped coriander, plus extra sprigs to garnish Salt and freshly ground pepper Handful fresh basil leaves, to garnish

1. Bring a large pan of lightly salted water to the boil. Add the pasta and cook for 12 minutes, or according to the packet instructions, until just tender.

2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large, deep pan over a medium heat. Add the garlic and stir for 2–3 minutes until soft, but not brown. Add the chilli flakes and whole chillies and cook for 1 minute then stir in the lemon zest and juice and wine. Bring to the boil and let the liquid bubble for 1 minute.

3. Add the prawns, squid and mussels to the pan and cover and simmer for 5-6 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally, until the prawns are pink and the mussels have opened (discard any that remain closed).

4. Drain the pasta and add to the pan with the chopped coriander. Toss well to coat the pasta in the pan juices. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve in warmed pasta bowls garnished with the coriander sprigs and basil leaves.

TIP: Scrub the fresh mussels clean and pull away the straggly ‘beards’. Discard any that don’t shut tightly when firmly tapped.

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Reducing your Meat Intake The headlines about meat-eating are all about why you shouldn’t. The main focus is on how rearing animals for food is a major contributor to climate change, but you don’t have to look far to understand that animal welfare and personal health are also significant motivators for the increased adoption of a more plant-based food intake.

It was recently reported that over the last decade, the UK’s meat consumption dropped by 17%. That’s a great start, but although we know why we should consider this new way of eating, the how seems to have less attention. Let’s look at some simple changes that might help in making your diet less focused on animal products.

Cooking from scratch The easiest option is to eat pretty much as you always did, but to use meat-free alternatives.

Mince, burgers, sausages, fish and chicken all have vegan substitutes available and in some cases it’s really quite difficult to spot

the difference. Even when it’s not a perfect replication of meat, it’s just as tasty so you won’t mind the change.

Beyond Meat burgers are a good example of this and are available in some supermarkets and in many pub and restaurant chains.

Giving up dairy and eggs takes a bit of getting used to.

Oat milk is the winner for its sustainability credentials, with almond milk now generally frowned upon. Butter substitutes have been around for years; vegan cheese is available but is a bit of an acquired taste. Replacements for eggs depends on the recipe, so you’ll have to do your research.

If this way of eating is going to stick, you’ll want to try some new recipes. The internet is full of vegetarian and vegan cooking ideas, but you’ll notice they typically have considerably more ingredients than meat-based meals do, including herbs and spices. If you love cooking and have lots of jars of flavourings in your cupboards you won’t mind this. Otherwise, you might want to consider a ready-to-cook option.

For this, the booming market of recipe boxes is a great start. British company Gousto offer around 60 recipes each week, with 20% vegan and a further 30% vegetarian (meaning over half the meals don’t contain meat).

Around 80% of HelloFresh meals contain meat so they are not a great choice but their sister brand GreenChef and another company Mindful Chef are both worth a look.

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Ready-to-eat The supermarkets have a selection of plant-based ready meals, which is particularly good if you need something quick or are eating alone. Frozen meal deliveries are available from a number of companies, including Planty and Allplants.

Take-away food is a bit more challenging – chicken, pizza and kebabs feature at the top of the list of the most popular purchases. It is possible though and the online menus should offer a clear indication of which of their options are vegetarian and vegan.

Eating out What you don’t want is to go to a pub or restaurant where there are just a couple of non-meat choices tucked away at the bottom of the menu. You should be offered many of the same options as usual but in a veggie version, and some recipes that are specifically targeted for non-meat eaters. Even better is a restaurant that has a specific vegan menu, and Wagamama deserve recognition for having introduced this at the start of 2021.

Ideally, choose a vegetarian restaurant that is guaranteed to have vegan choices too. You can search on TripAdvisor

for ‘Vegetarian friendly’ and ‘Vegan options’ from the dietary requirements. However, the eatery can qualify for this even if they only have a couple of dishes.

A better place to start would be Happy Cow (happycow.net) as there’s far more of a focus on plant-based restaurants and cafes.

A general Google search is also useful, or your local Facebook group will have lots of people giving you recommendations (or ‘avoids’).

Be realistic Like any new regime, a wholesale overnight change will be challenging and will often lead to failure. But even if you could just do one no-animal-products day each week, you will have cut your meat intake by 14% and in time you’ll realise that you often prefer the veggie or vegan option.

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Now we’re Cooking

Top tech for every kitchen

Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 If you haven’t tried Instant Pot boiled eggs you don’t know what you’re missing. It’s also great for making soup, stews, chilli, rice and even yoghurt. £59, Amazon.co.uk

Panasonic SDYR2550SXC There are bread makers, and then there are bread makers that can also make cakes and pizza dough and pasta dough. If you can bake it, this Panasonic can make it. £199, johnlewis.com Sage The Smart Oven This brilliant multi-cooker is great for small spaces because it does so much: it’s a grill, an oven, an air fryer, a toaster, a food warmer, a pizza oven and more. £249, sageappliances.com

Stirr Say goodbye to the tyranny of pots that need constant stirring: Stirr does it for you so you can do something more fun while your sauce thickens or your soup cooks. £21.99, uutensil.com

Thermomix It’s not cheap but when you consider all the things the Thermomix can do, from weighing and chopping ingredients to sautéing and even frying, it’s incredibly useful. £1,099, vorwerk.co.uk

Brilliant buys for every kind of cooking From setting alarms on our smart speakers to using an instant-read digital thermometer to check our roasts are the perfect temperature, technology has helped us make countless meals.

Some of the cleverest tech is also very simple.

Take the Meater, for example. It’s a thermometer with a built-in Bluetooth connection that sends temperature information to your phone and rings an alarm when it’s time to take your roast out of the oven or barbecue; its case doubles as a charger so it’s always ready to help.

Technology has revitalised lots of devices. The Panasonic SD-YR2550SXC is a newer version of BBC Good Food’s favourite bread maker, with programmes not just for bread but for pasta and pizza dough and cake too, while the £22 Stirr gives the humble wooden spoon an upgrade: it’s an automatic stirrer you put in your pot to prevent your soup sticking or your gravy getting lumpy.

If you prefer do-everything devices, you’ll love the Vitamix. It’s not so much a gadget as an entire food preparation system that’s capable of doing pretty much anything: weighing ingredients, blending vegetables, grinding spices, boiling and simmering, kneading dough, whisking sauces, grating vegetables and cheese, chopping meat, caramelising onions and much more.

Two kinds of device have become incredibly popular in the last few years: the Instant Pot and the air fryer. The former is a programmable one-pot electric pressure cooker that can do multiple kinds of cooking: slow cooking, rice cooking, steaming, sautéing, yoghurt making, soup making and much more, and with prices under £60 for the entry level model it’s a brilliant buy.

An air fryer uses heat and air to get the same effects as deep frying without the oil: instead of immersing the food in a vat of boiling oil you just give it a little spray with cooking oil. The results are superb for almost everything apart from wet batters, which tend to fall off, and there are stacks of models: our current favourite, Sage’s The Smart Oven, is an air fryer, oven, grill, toaster, pizza oven, slow cooker and much more. You can even get an Instant Pot with a second lid that turns it into an air fryer: the Instant Pot Duo Crisp & Air Fryer is currently around £199.

19

Blueberry Custard Tarts

These fruity tarts have a rich creamy custard filling with a crisp pastry case. If you prefer you can use shortcrust pastry.

Makes: 8 Ready in: 1 hour, plus cooling

Ingredients 75g caster sugar 3 medium egg yolks 2 tbsp cornflour 1 tsp vanilla extract 350ml milk 500g puff pastry, thawed if frozen Flour, for dusting 100g fresh blueberries

Method 1. Whisk the sugar, egg yolks, cornflour and vanilla extract together in a heatproof bowl until smooth. Heat the milk in a pan over a medium heat until almost boiling. Whisk the hot milk into the egg mixture then pour back into the pan. Gradually bring the mixture to the boil, stirring all the time, until a smooth custard forms.

2. Remove the pan from the heat and cover the surface closely with greasproof paper to prevent a skin forming. Leave to cool completely.

3. Meanwhile roll the pastry out on a lightly dusted surface to a 3mm thickness. Stamp out eight 12cm rounds of pastry and use to line eight 8cm fluted tartlet tins. Prick the bases with a fork and chill in the fridge whilst the custard is cooling.

4. Preheat the oven to 200C, 180C fan, gas mark 6. Divde the cooled custard mixture between the pastry cases and scatter over the blueberries. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the pastry is crisp and golden. Serve warm or cold.

TIP: Place a baking sheet in the oven to heat up then place the filled tartlet tins on it for baking. The extra burst of heat will help to ensure a crisp pastry base.

20

Hall to Convert Rainford Hall in Crank, developed

by Colonel Richard Pilkington in 1875, is to be converted into a luxury residential retreat with 19 guest rooms, gymnasium, spa, two beauty rooms, therapy programmes and wellbeing services for those suffering with stress, depression, addiction and anxiety.

Steps Together Group has signed a 20-year lease for the hall which, up until a couple of months ago, was the base for several local businesses on short term leases. The building and surrounding estate continues to be owned by the Pilkington family.

TJM Projects of Jackson Street, St Helens are one of the main contractors working on the conversion of the hall.

The Steps Together Group have vowed to safeguard the stunning features within the building, and Steve Jones, the Deputy CEO of Steps Together, issued this statement; “Rainford Hall is the perfect environment for our work,

and we are delighted to be working alongside our local contractors to sympathetically convert the Hall for our business needs.

“During the coming months we will be working closely to further develop relationships with local suppliers and support local businesses.

“We are also excited to find new and innovative ways to support our Health Care & NHS colleagues, ensuring their patients are able to secure excellent private treatment at Steps Together.”

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Study for a Degree in the Evenings at Carmel College BSc Physical Education & Sport Science (3 Years) Study for a Full-Time Degree at Carmel College (Evening Study) “Perfect for anyone who wants a career change or wants to grow themselves.”

Kyle Amor, St Helens RLFC 3rd Year Student

Face-to-face sessions are normally between 6pm-9pm one evening per week at Carmel College.

Various methods of assessment including essays, exams, posters, e-portfolio and reflective journals.

Carmel College | Prescot Road St Helens | WA10 3AG www.carmel.ac.uk

Combined Honours Degree Early Years Childhood/Education/SEN (3 Years) Study for a Full-Time Degree at Carmel College (Evening Study)

Face-to–face sessions are normally between 6pm-9pm one or two evenings per week at Carmel College. The degrees are relevant to students who wish to pursue professional qualifications in the field of education (within school early years settings as well as other education-based settings) or as a teacher following a PGCE. Both these full-time evening courses will take three years to complete and are delivered by a combination of face-to-face sessions, on-line sessions and independent study.

For further information, please contact us on: 01744 452259 or highereducation@carmel.ac.uk

24

Choosing a nursery Looking for the perfect nursery? Here’s a few things to keep in mind…

Decide your priorities Everyone wants their child to be safe and happy. Beyond that, what are your main priorities? Are you looking for a small nursery where all the children play together or one where the children are split into groups depending on their age? Do you want your child to go to a nursery that follows the government’s EYFS framework, or one that follows a different approach, such as Montessori or Steiner Waldorf? Perhaps you want a nursery with plenty of outdoor space?

It’s OK if you don’t have all the answers just yet, but it’s a good idea to have at least a rough idea of what you’re looking for.

Consider location People tend to focus on nurseries near their home, but it may actually make more sense to choose one that’s nearer to your workplace. However, do consider what will happen if you move jobs or want to work from home more often. If you and your partner work in different locations, it may be easier having a nursery that’s closer to home, so that you can take turns dropping off and picking up. A nursery close to home may also mean your child moves up to primary school with a group of friends, which could make the transition easier.

Ask around The best recommendations usually come from friends, as they’ll likely share many of your views on childcare.

However, it’s also worth asking for opinions on your local Facebook group and other social media channels, and checking websites such as www. daynurseries.co.uk.

Once you have a shortlist

of nurseries, you’ll want to read each one’s OFSTED report at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

Check the small print Scrutinise the different policies and websites of the nurseries you’re considering. You’ll want to compare: • Fees and any extra costs, such as meals and penalties for late pick-up • Opening and closing times • Staff-to-child ratios • Staff qualifications • Holiday policies • First aid training (It’s also worth downloading the checklist at www. childcare.co.uk/information/nursery-is-your-child-ready.)

Visit your shortlisted nurseries Even if you have your heart set on one particular nursery, it’s worth visiting at least three so that you can compare them. Write down any questions you have before you go.

You’ll want to see whether the children look happy and engaged, how friendly and knowledgeable the staff are, what different activities the children are offered and how clean and safe the setting seems. You’ll also want to check where and when your child will take their nap, what type of food they’ll eat and whether there are quiet areas they can retreat to if they’re feeling overwhelmed.

Ultimately, you want to be armed with all the information you need to make the right choice.

However, there’s also a lot to be said for trusting your gut instinct. Which nursery feels right for your child?

25

Could you be one of tomorrow’s outstanding teachers?

Join us at our open evenings Monday 17th January 2022

4-5:30pm

Monday 7th February 2022

4-5:30pm

Monday 14th March 2022

4-5:30pm

Monday 25th April 2022

Individuals who are passionate about working with young children.

Individuals who have the potential to be outstanding teachers

4-5:30pm

Please email enquiries@wcpsd.uk to register your interest.

Accredited Study days will be at Liverpool Hope University leading to a PGCE and QTS in primary teaching.

For more information and updates please visit www.wcpsd.uk and www.saintpatricks.wigan.sch.uk To search the course please visit the ‘get into teaching’ website https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/ and search using the following provider and course codes.

Provider code 2A4 Primary course code (Age 5-11) 2XT7 EYFS course code (Age 3-7) AP55

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!

Simply contact us on editorial@locallife247.co.uk or call us on 01744 649722

Anne Turner MUSIC TEACHER GDMuS. CertEd. ALCM

Voice/Piano Keyboard Theory Choral Direction Anne also works with choirs and community music groups For more information, contact Anne on:

Tel: (0151) 426 6606 Mobile: 07767 815916

Email: j.anneturner@btinternet.com

DBS Certified

26

Is sitting the new smoking?

According to a growing number of experts, sitting is the latest health hazard to look out for. But why is a sedentary lifestyle so bad for us, and what can we do about it?

Working from home, online shopping and periods of self-isolation: since the first lockdown struck, many of us will have noticed that we’re sitting down more than ever before.

Unfortunately, this change of lifestyle comes at a cost.

Evidence suggests that excessive sitting can expose us to a range of health issues, from backache and varicose veins to diabetes. The reason? Humans were built to stand, with the heart, cardiovascular system and bowel functioning far more efficiently when we’re upright.

Now, this isn’t great news for the thousands of us that have desk-based jobs – but don’t lose hope just yet. There are lots of things you can do to help:

Invest in a standing desk If you work in an office or from home, one of the easiest ways to reduce your sitting time is to invest in a standing desk.

Standing is certainly better for us than sitting. However, there is evidence to suggest that standing still for long periods of time isn’t hugely beneficial to our bodies either.

Balance is key; start by standing for 30 to 60 minutes a day and gradually increase until you’re alternating between standing and sitting every hour.

Take regular breaks It can be hard to motivate yourself to leave your desk during the working day. However, taking regular breaks – even if it’s just to grab a cuppa – can make a world of difference.

In the office and need to send an email? Get away from your desk and relay the message in person. Working from home and fancy a coffee? Treat yourself by taking a walk to your local cafe. And on days when you’re too busy to take a lunch break, set a timer to remind you to stretch or have a little walk around.

Sit the right way If you’re spending much of your working life at a desk, it’s important to invest in an office chair that will help you perfect your posture.

Choose a chair with lumbar support to ensure your lower back curves to the shape of the chair, and make sure it’s adjusted so your feet are resting on the floor. You should also avoid crossing your legs and try to keep your back straight as much as you can. Doing so will make the hours you do spend sitting as comfortable as possible.

Get some exercise Evidence suggests that we need between 60-75 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per day to combat the dangers of excessive sitting – but the more frequent the better. You’ll be glad to hear that this doesn’t mean you have to hit the gym every day. Moderate exercise could be a brisk walk on your lunch break, a light bike ride or even those slightly more exerting cleaning duties, such as vacuuming, window cleaning or mopping the floor.

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Win Tickets to

Ed Byrne!

A household name teetering on the brink of national treasure status, awardwinning comedian Ed Byrne enjoys worldwide acclaim for his stand-up. With 25 years under his belt, Ed is a regular on Mock The Week and The Graham Norton Show, and has recently co-presented Dara & Ed’s Big Adventure and its follow-up Dara & Ed’s Road To Mandalay.

Ed’s new stand-up show, ‘If I’m Honest’ arrives at the Theatre Royal in St Helens on Tuesday 22nd January and we’ve got a pair of tickets to give away in our latest competition.

might have, but the average person who comes to see me would not like to see that’.

‘People who come to see me are not political activists necessarily, they’re regular folk. If you can make a point to them, in between talking about your struggles with aging, or discussing your hernia operation or whatever it is, you can toss in something that does give people pause as regards to how men should share the household chores.’

Photo credit: Idil Sukan

A quarter of a century at the comedic coalface has equipped Ed with a highly evolved story-telling ability and a silky mastery of his craft. Yet his wit, charm and self-deprecatory observational humour is often underpinned by a consistently hilarious vitriol and sense of injustice at a world that seems to be spinning ever more rapidly out of control.

Ed’s new show digs ever deeper into a father’s sense of responsibility, what it means to be a man, and whether he possesses any qualities whatsoever worth passing on to his two sons. Whilst Ed is occasionally accused of whimsy, If I’m Honest is a show with a seriously steely core.

As ever, Ed manages to provoke without being overly polemical, a balancing act that only someone of his huge experience can really pull off. ‘I did stuff about Trump and the Pizzagate right wing conspiracy,’ he says, ‘and a couple of the reviewers said, “Oh, I would have liked to have watched a whole show of this”. And I think, ‘well you

Age, it seems, has not withered him. Especially now that he’s figured out how to head off ailments before they become a problem.

‘You see comics who are my age and older but are still retaining a level of “cool” and drawing a young crowd. I can’t deny that I’m quite envious of that. But there’s also something very satisfying about your audience growing old with you.’

To enter the competition to win a pair of tickets to Ed Byrne’s show at Theatre Royal in St Helens, simply visit our website, www.locallife247.co.uk, click on ‘free stuff’ and then on ‘competitions’ and then answer the following question;

What’s the name of Ed’s new stand up show?

The expiry date for the competition is midnight on Wednesday 19th January 2022 and the winners will be notified within 48 hours. Entrants must be over 16 years of age. Only one entry per household. Local Life 247 cannot accept responsibility for entries that do not reach us.

Employees of Local Life 247 Ltd and their families are not eligible to enter this competition.

Ed Byrne is touring nationwide. For more information, please visit http://edbyrne.com

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32

Review Of The Year QUIZ

Engineering Centre Open St Helens College recently welcomed Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, to officially unveil their new Centre for Precision Engineering at the STEM Centre, Technology Campus.

1. Which

computer pioneer and codebreaker features on the new Bank of England 50 pound note that entered circulation in 2021?

2. Before later admitting it was an April Fool’s joke to help promote its upcoming electric cars, which car manufacturer said in a press release that it was changing the fourth letter in its name to a “t”?

3. At the 2021 Brit Awards, who became the first ever all-female group to win the Best British Group award?

4. Which online fashion retailer bought the brand

Debenhams in January and the brands Burton, Wallis and Dorothy Perkins in February?

5. Name the only two players to score for England

in the penalty shoot-out of the UEFA Euro 2020 Final.

6. Which British city was stripped of its UNESCO World Heritage status in 2021 developments along its waterfront?

due

to

7. In 2021, El Salvador become the first country in the world to make what legal tender?

8. Instead of its usual course on the River Thames,

the 2021 University Boat Race was held in Cambridgeshire on a stretch of which river?

9. 2021 saw which 83-year-old become the oldest

ever person to win an Academy Award for acting?

10. Name the three countries who finished above Great Britain in the medal table at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Quiz solutions can be found on page 80 of this magazine

The £1m investment, partially funded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, supported the installation of brand-new industry standard machinery and equipment such as Wi-Fi enabled Haas CNC Machines, Axis Lathes, Milling Machines and Haas Simulators, to provide students and apprentices with the opportunity to develop their skills and learn all aspects of modern precision engineering including design, testing, manufacturing and operations.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “As someone who is especially passionate about skills and technical subjects, it’s fantastic to see our £1m investment in the college paying off. The new equipment is absolutely world class; I’m sure that our young people will benefit from it.” Hopefully they will develop a passion for STEAM subjects and go on to be the engineers of tomorrow!”

Rebecca (pictured, a Mechanical Engineering Apprentice at Cheshire Seals and Components, commented: “It’s an incredible environment to learn in – you are learning to use real machinery and equipment that meets the training and knowledge requirements expected by your employer, so it means that I’m able to train effectively in my role and hopefully, progress forward in my career.”

Simon Pierce, CEO and Principal at St Helens College, said: “The Centre for Precision Engineering is a great asset for the College and our community. It will enhance our students’ learning and career prospects, support local businesses to grow and expand and support the growth of our local economy.”

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Adventure of a Lifetime Experiencing travel in the past few months has been like riding a rollercoaster.

The excitement of once again being able to travel has been thwarted by the need to produce passenger locator forms and adhere to ever-changing traffic light guidelines.

From the seasoned city break traveller looking for something new, to the adventurous family set on a road trip round, and the hedonistic party lover looking for an ‘Instagrammable’ hotspot – Iceland is a destination for all.

If there’s one upside for those who have reduced their travel in 20/21, it’s that most have increased funds available to spend on future holidays. The expectation of the travel industry is that we’re likely to be more discerning when choosing future holiday locations.

Iceland is also becoming an increasingly popular cruise destination, especially for those who want to reach Iceland’s natural wonders and wildlife. A selection of cruises from Fred.Olsen depart from Liverpool and allows tourists to explore Iceland’s most incredible highlights.

So, who’s ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Welcome to Iceland.

Here’s eight places that should be on your ‘Must Visit’ list for Iceland:

One of Europe’s most magical and unforgettable spots, Iceland is a picture-perfect destination for travellers.

Dubbed the land of fire and ice, Iceland is a captivating country where volcanoes, glaciers come together to create a landscape that is like nowhere else on Earth. With friendly locals, spectacular scenery, lots of adventure, and a lively party scene, everyone should experience Iceland at least once in their life.

Reykjavik blends Nordic heritage with a contemporary, distinctly unique style, and this lively city is compact, cosmopolitan and refreshingly different. Its charming downtown of painted timber homes is watched over by the soaring and unforgettable spire of the Hallgrimskirkja church, while oodles of hearty Scandinavian vodka bars and taverns litter the streets.

Mt. Kirkjufell

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Seljalandsfoss Falls

Twenty-five miles from the capital is Iceland’s most visited tourist attraction, The Blue Lagoon. Despite its volcanic nature, the site was formed from the remnants of a geothermal power plant in the 1970s. The mineralpacked waters, – the reason for the shimmering, whitish hue of the lagoon – is the driving force behind the spot’s famed healing powers.

The majestic Gullfoss Waterfall roaring over the escarpments and bluffshas long been a highlight for tourists. It’s famous as one of the world’s most dramatic waterfalls, and cascades over a series of stepped rocks

and terraces before plunging over a 100ft high gap seemingly disappearing into the Icelandic subterrane.

The waterfall can often be arched over by rainbows or shrouded in plumes of mist, added to the graphic effects.

As the self-proclaimed capital of Iceland’s North,

Akureyri boasts one of the most beautiful harbours in the country, whilst the town and its surrounding fjords and mountains make it one of the most charming places to visit. This fishing port and seaside gem is packed with interesting independent cafes and teahouses, while

Presentation Evening Tuesday 25th January - 6pm start

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Husavik

the Hafnarstraeti shopping street offers up countless boutiques and craft stores.

An easy 50-minute drive from the capital, Strokkur Geysir (after which all geysers are named) is the most popular fountain geyser in Iceland. This highly active hot spring area lies by the Hvítá River and is a popular stop for tourists. Boiling mud pits and around 100 other smaller geysers are waiting to be explored here. ‘Hot Spring’ bread is popular with visitors too, rye bread that’s been baking in hot springs for 24 hours.

Skaftafell Ice Cave

Fully expanding on the multitude of attractions in Iceland would have filled this issue of Local Life and a few more besides. If there’s anything that the past two years have highlighted though, it’s the importance of making the most of your holiday time. In fact, it’s time to ditch holidays and go on adventures instead – and Iceland certainly qualifies as an adventure not to be missed!

Vatnajökull National Park is one of three national parks in Iceland and consists of glaciers and stunning ice caves. The best time to visit Skaftafell Ice Cave is during winter after heavy rain has washed the top layer of the glacier away. If seen at the right time, the cave is bathed in spectacular blue light. If you are in healthy shape, you might consider doing a glacial trek in the park with an experienced guide.

Grundarfjördur is approximately 2½ hours from Reykjavik and is a small town centrally located on the north coast of Snaefellsnes peninsula. The town lies in a picturesque fjord, surrounded by mountains, with Mt. Kirkjufell looming as a striking landmark. Eyrbyggja Heritage Centre holds exhibitions on Grundarfjördur’s seafaring history and this is the information centre for the whole peninsula.

Húsavík is known as Europe’s number one spot for whale and dolphin watching; in most summers, the tour operators have 100% sighting rates. This picturesque town, which enjoys gorgeous views over Skjálfandi Bay, has many cute cafés and restaurants. Close by is Lake Mývatn, a shallow volcanic lake known for its flora and fauna, and Vatnajökull National Park.

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Active 2022!

39

It’s been almost two years since Covid-19 entered our lives and changed them for the worse. A Covid-free world doesn’t appear to be happening any time soon,

B

adminton

In the world of theatre in the United States, all roads lead to Broadway. Equally, in the world of badminton in St Helens, all roads lead to Broadway - that’s the Badminton Centre in Grange Park.

As the saying goes, life is not

The Broadway centre hosts no less than eleven group sessions of badminton each week. Men, ladies, children, able-bodied, disabled, family groups and four local clubs all play at Broadway Badminton Centre. And if you don’t fancy playing as part of group, you can turn up and ‘pay and play’ with a partner of your choice.

a dress rehearsal, so let 2022

www.facebook.com/broadwaybadminton/

so we’ve been out and about looking for some inspirational activities for you to try in 2022.

be the year when we embrace activity, healthiness, and happiness!

C

ooking

Colours, St Helens College’s fully operational, training restaurant on Waterloo Street has a Cookery School which offers a varied selection of themed short courses, run on evenings and weekends, for aspiring cooks, chefs and bakers at all levels?

Anyone up for Chinese? Italian? Mexican? Curries of the World? Tapas? Colours Cookery School runs all these short courses and many more, all taught by passionate and experienced chefs. They even do Gin and Wine tasting masterclasses! www.sthelens.ac.uk/colours

A

D

www.ashtonartgroup.co.uk

For the more enthusiastic and flexible, there’s pole dancing! Rock ‘N’ Pole is based at the Hamma Gym on North Road in St Helens, pole dancing classes run on Tuesday and Friday evenings, and the occasional Sunday session too.

rt

Where better to start our 2022 awakening than art? Ashton Art Group are a well-supported and established group, and this is a great place to discover your inner artist. The group meets weekly every Tuesday evening at 8pm until 10pm at the Community & Childcare Centre in Hilton Street in Ashton-In-Makerfield (formerly the YMCA). There is no formal tuition, but the group runs demonstrations and workshops which help to develop skills and ideas, and also run regular life model sessions.

ance

Surely one of the world’s most enjoyable forms of exercise, dance has health benefits of varying degrees. Operational since 2005, the Silhouette Dance Club in Boundary Road is one of the town’s longest established dance club and has classes for all styles of dance to suit all ages. The dance genres taught at the club include ballroom, Latin, salsa, sequence and rock and roll.

www.facebook.com/silhouettedanceclub/ www.facebook.com/rocknpole.sh

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E

ducation

There’s a whole host of opportunities to further your education and expand your knowledge with St Helens College, St Helens Council and Carmel University Centre, to name a few! You’ll be faced with an assortment of ways to gain qualifications and improve your career, but there are also a multitude of openings to enhance your life too. With everything from digital skills, short online courses to jewellery making and photography on offer, you’re sure to find something that fits your brief. Check out the websites for more details: www.sthelens.ac.uk/adults/adultcourseguide www.sthelens.gov.uk/schools-education/adult-andcommunity-learning or www.carmel.ac.uk/carmel-university-centre

F

oraging

You can take part in foraging and other sustainable activities with the Green Town St Helens crowd. Bee workshops, planting trees, making terrariums, blending herbal tea and making bug hotels are just some of the actions taken by the group. Join the Facebook group below or pop along to Momo’s café on Westfield Street on the last Friday of every month at 11am for an informal meeting and presentation. www.facebook.com/greentownsthelens

G

o Active

If sport and fitness is a big part of your life then you should already be aware of Go Active, the sports facilities run by St Helens Council. Queens Park Health and Fitness has a swimming pool, a fitness suite with sauna & steam rooms, plus a host of fitness classes. Sutton Leisure Centre has a multitude of racket sport and athletic facilities, and a brand new 3G pitch too. Visitors to Newtonle-Willows Health and Fitness can enjoy a 90-station fitness suite, a 25-metre swimming pool, a cycling studio, a group exercise studio and an outdoor pitch!

Best of all, there’s a range of membership options where you can take advantage of all the facilities across all the Go Active sites! Membership starts from just £13.95 per month. www.goactive.sthelens.gov.uk

H

iking

If you think that local walking groups are generally populated by walkers who have, quite literally been round the block a few times, you’d be right. Fillyaboots however, is a popular Merseyside walking group with a difference. Most of the 1,000+ members are in their 20’s and 30’s and they relish their walks, enjoy socials, making new friends and the odd weekend away too. www.fillyaboots.org.uk

I

n Bloom

This horticultural competition, first established by the British Tourist Board, has been running across British villages, town and cities for almost 60 years. But In Bloom is more than a competition, it gives residents a chance to work with their neighbours to make their neighbourhood a more aesthetically pleasing place.

There’s a group already established in Rainford, but if you want to set up a group in your area, you can do this via the RHS at www.rhs.org.uk/get-involved/britain-in-bloom/ register www.facebook.com/RainfordinBloom

J

ogging

You’ve spent the entire Christmas holiday bingewatching Netflix and finishing off the Quality Street. Then you made that drink-fuddled resolution to get fit in 2022. Now what? For many people Couch to 5K, which aims to get someone to run 5km continuously after nine weeks of training, is the beginner plan of choice.

However, if you’re not in great shape, you might want to try a ‘lite’ version of this idea called None to Run, which is a free alternative that takes things at a slower pace. There’s also a paid-for app which can guide you through each run on your iPhone or Apple Watch. www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/couch-to-5k-week-byweek/ www.nonetorun.com/

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K

arate

St Helens Shotokan Karate Club was formed in 1966, and over the years has launched the careers of many martial arts champions at different levels.

But if your ambitions aren’t that lofty, that’s fine too, most members share goals of fun, exercise, and fitness at their base at Sutton Leisure Centre. Adults and children welcome – check out the Facebook page for details. www.facebook.com/StHelensSKC

L

itter Picking

If you’re looking for inspiration to make your community tidier by picking up litter, just check out the story of one man and his litter picking experiences in St Helens. Ian Roberts’ Facebook page, ‘St Helens #LitterHeroes’.

If you are interested in getting involved in litter picking, the council can help you to set up your own community litter group or put you in touch with an existing group within the borough. To book litter pickers, orange bin bags, and a waste collection, please email: loveyourstreet@sthelens.gov.uk or call 01744 676789.

M

usical Theatre

Any budding thespian should check out these community theatre groups.

Pilkingtons Musical Theatre Company have been performing in the town for almost a century and are now based at St Luke’s Church in Eccleston. The Rainhill Musical Theatre Company have been around in one guise or another since the 1950’s and are based at the Village Hall in Dane Court. For more details visit: www.pilkingtonmtc.co.uk www.facebook.com/RainhillMTC

N

etball

If you know your Goal Attack from your Goal shooter then you’ll know how to play netball, but did you know that there’s a thriving Netball Club in St Helens? The Capricorn Netball Club has teams stretching from Under 11’s right through to Open Age that all play within the local leagues. The club train on Monday nights at Sutton Leisure Centre. www.facebook.com/capricornnetballteam

O

ddfellows

If making friends, helping people and getting out and about is on your list of things that you like to do, then the St Helens and Warrington branch of the Oddfellows Society is right up your street. For over 200 years, the Oddfellows has helped its members forge friendships and offered help in times of need. You can enjoy social events, go on holidays, volunteer, get membership benefits and much more besides. www.oddfellows.co.uk

P

edal Power

If you’re new to cycling or looking for moderate exercise only, then check out Pedal Power Experience. This council-backed club operates regular rides from six venues in St Helens, even supplying bikes and cycle helmets. If you’re looking for a more highpowered challenge, then check out the St Helens and Warrington CTC Cycling Club, which operates twiceweekly rides, mainly round quieter roads in Cheshire. www.pedalpowerexperience.co.uk www.sthelensandwarringtonctc.org

Q

uiz Nights

Not the most active of pursuits admittedly, but the return walk to the local pub, and the mental efforts in recollecting the year when Saints won their first Challenge Cup etc. is better than sitting on the couch watching Corrie.

R

oller Skating

Getting fit can be a tedious slog sometimes, but here’s one imaginative way to achieve fitness and have fun too! Roller-skating has wheeled through many dips and rises since its beginnings in the 1880’s but is undergoing a new surge in popularity. The IWF Rollerdome opened on Regent Street in Liverpool in 2021 and Wigan Roller Rink boasts Europe’s biggest indoor wooden rink. Both venues run lessons for learners. www.iwf-rollerdrome.com www.wiganrollerrink.com

S

nowsports

You can depend on snowsports venues being all year-round fun, no matter the weather.

Nearby Runcorn Snowsport Centre offers skiing and snowboarding lessons, including ski, boot and helmet hire, for those intent on learning how to hit the big slopes. www.runcornski.weebly.com

T

able Tennis

A recent study showed that table tennis improved more brain function than dancing, walking or gymnastics. Not only that it’s a great way to keep fit all year round. Rainford has a vibrant table tennis club with over 60 members, and a proposal is currently on the table to build a permanent base in the village. https://www.facebook.com/Rainford-Table-TennisClub-161863097198835

W

43

I

Forget the jam-making and Jerusalem image, today’s Women’s Institute is a modern organisation suitable for all ages. During the pandemic, members rushed to support foodbanks, arrange book deliveries and create craft kits for families home-schooling their children. Local WI’s meet in Rainford, Rainhill, St Helens, Eccleston and Burtonwood. www.thewi.org.uk

X

-perience Days

Fancy ticking off a few things on your bucket list in 2022? This website contains a glut of active experiences. Fancy a flying lesson, doing Britain’s highest bungee jump, rock climbing, quad biking… you can find these and thousands of other experiences on the website below. www.experiencedays.co.uk

U

3A

If you take one thing away from this feature it’s this: If you’re no longer in full time work and you want to get (or stay active), then join the St Helens U3A! U3A is a UK-wide movement of locally-run groups that provides a wide range activities for its members. The St Helens U3A, founded just five years ago, has hundreds of members and acts as a gateway to dozens of activities taking place across St Helens, far more than we have room to list here. Members also can enjoy social events and coffee mornings. Membership is just £15 a year and you pay an additional £2 for every activity you participate in. www.u3asites.org.uk/st-helens

V

olunteering

There are dozens of groups in the St Helens area that are looking for volunteers to help them do their good works. Check out the website below to help you choose from a selection of local volunteering opportunities. www.haltonsthelensvca.org.uk

Y

oga

The benefits of Yoga are well documented, and you too can improve your strength, balance and flexibility in 2022 by completing a yoga course. You should try a few sessions at different venues to find an instructor that you’re comfortable with. Yoga Steve is well established in St Helens and runs classes at a number of town centre venues. www.yogasteve.vpweb.co.uk/classes

Z

zzz

Experts believe sleep and exercise have a bidirectional relationship. In other words, the more active you are during the day, the better quality of sleep. And getting an adequate amount of sleep may promote healthier physical activity levels during the day after.

46

Fresh New Year January is a great time to catch up on all those household chores and get going with an early ‘spring’ clean. Make it more enjoyable and planet-friendly by choosing goodlooking tools and eco-conscious supplies.

This coconut fibre scourer has a bamboo handle, both of which are plant-based and biodegradable; the stainlesssteel wire is easily recyclable.

Bambaw reusable bamboo dish brush, £6, beaumonde. co.uk.

Good-looking storage makes organisation more enjoyable.

Matt black steel and bamboo caddy, £10; all-purpose hob cleaner, £3; bamboo and plastic scrubbing brush, £2; bamboo round dish brush, £2; all dunelm.com.

Make light work of house cleaning • If you can’t bear the thought of tackling all the cleaning at once, divide it into manageable tasks, and devote perhaps an hour a week – or else tackle one room at a time, maybe over a weekend.

Generously sized and made from pure cotton, this gingham apron features a pair of handy patch pockets.

Auberge apron in Wedgwood blue, £16.99, waltonshop.co.uk.

Take the effort out of everyday cleaning.

Long-handle dustpan and brush, £25, gardentrading.co.uk.

The sustainable way to clean dirty dishes. Simply compost when finished with them.

Natural latex rubber gloves, £3, zerozen.co.uk.

• Be prepared. Have a thorough clear-out and tidy, change into old clothes and rubber gloves, and gather the necessary equipment and products.

This is where a sturdy caddy, a tool belt, or an apron with plenty of large pockets becomes invaluable – keeping everything with you as you go will save lots of time.

• As you work, try to be organised, whether it’s one room at a time or one task at a time. The chores will generally divide into five main areas: vacuuming, dusting, mopping/scrubbing, washing and wiping, and polishing, so bear this in mind when planning, so as not to miss anything out.

• Don’t forget specific tasks such as turning mattresses, spot-cleaning upholstery, deepcleaning the oven, defrosting the freezer, descaling the shower head and steam cleaning carpets.

• Work from the top of a room to the bottom (in other words, dust the pendant light before polishing the table beneath it). Prioritise the hardest-to-clean item in the room to do early on – then the rest of the room will be a breeze.

47 This eco-friendly cleaner works on a range of high-gloss surfaces, and comes in a reusable aluminium bottle along with a microfibre cloth.

Glass cleaner starter pack, £6.99, wearthlondon.com.

Make light work of dusting without the need for toxic chemicals.

Living Nostalgia genuine natural ostrich feather duster, kitchencraft.co.uk.

These heavy-knitted cloths can be used, washed, and used again.

Bleached stockinette dishcloth, £1.79, waltonshop.co.uk.

This lemon-scented washingup soap bar is 100% natural, biodegradable, plastic-free and contains no palm oil.

Dish-washing soap bar in lemon, £7.99, suusco.com.

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48 Handmade in the UK, this love seat is composed of Scandinavian birch, with feather-wrapped foam cushions for squishy comfort.

Banoffee love seat, £1,445, Loaf: 020 3141 8300; loaf.com.

For a look that is classically stylish, easy to live with and works in every room, choose a subtle palette of whites, greys and browns.

This table teams two planks of tactile and sustainably sourced white oiled oak with black metal legs.

Industrial oak table, £975; Edie dining chairs, £525 (pair); all Nordic House: 01872 223 220; nordichouse.co.uk.

In a room decorated with neutrals, you will always feel at home. With an almost infinite range of colours, from the purest white to pale, mid and deep tones of grey, beige and brown, they work well for both old and new houses, and for small or large spaces. Think of the glow of polished wood, the texture of rattan, the variations of natural pebbles – these luscious shades, chosen and combined with care, can be full of character.

First, the basics. Pale can definitely be interesting: shades of not-quite-white offer a surprising range of options, from fresh, bright and airy to rich, warm and restful. Rooms painted in pure white can appear bigger and brighter, thanks to the way the colour reflects light around. A clean white wall is a great background for vibrant paintings, for the coloured spines of books, or for a simple jug of flowers. And if brilliant white is too cold, choose a white

49

50 with a pink or yellow undertone that warms the space and is more flattering against the skin.

Beyond white, pale neutrals vary in hue from cream to sand, through taupe to stone and bleached-timber tones, while darker neutrals vary from charcoal and ebony to chocolate – and there is a whole rainbow in between to choose from, including beautiful greys, from palest dove to darkest steel. Many people love the laid-back, fresh feel of a room that puts white on white, or combines a range of very pale tones, but with neutrals it is also possible to employ counterpoints of darker tones against lighter colours, or even to go dark and dramatic all over.

Choose colours by trying them out in situ, using small tester pots before committing to a bigger purchase. Paint at least two coats on several pieces of card, and stick them up on every wall around the room in question. Observe the colours at the times you’ll usually be in the room, and with your lights both on and off, as lighting

soft cotton, warm wool, floaty muslin, fluffy sheepskin, and so on. Bring out the cosiness of a small bedroom, for example, with a shaggy rug, matt-painted walls, velvet curtains and soft woollen throws. Or emphasise a light and airy living room with satin-varnished floorboards, glossy woodwork, sheer curtains and silk cushions.

While there is inherent pattern in many of these textures (the weave of a rug or a wicker basket, for example) you may wish to introduce some surface pattern, too.

In rooms that are, on the whole, relatively plain, small pattern features will stand out as focal points. Checks and stripes, chevrons and zigzags, damasks and geometrics can all look particularly good. Similarly, the occasional spot of colour, whether it’s a pale pink cushion, a turquoise vase or a mustard-coloured lampshade, may be the perfect finishing touch for an all-neutral room, adding just a touch of drama and personality to the calm and welcoming vibe.

has a marked effect on neutrals.

The trick is to select layers of colour rather than just one, creating an interesting, subtly varied effect. When combining neutrals, avoid using different hues that are all of the same tone. An easy way to choose is to take a colour chart and go up or down (dark to light) within the same colour family, rather than working across from colour to colour. You could use darker tones for woodwork, with lighter ones for walls or, if you have features such as cornices and dadoes, perhaps vary the wall tones with lighter ones above and darker ones below the divisions. You can also use different neutrals to provide a gentle visual link from room to room: perhaps a very pale colour in a narrow hallway, with slightly darker hues in a living room and a warm tone in a dining room, for example.

With paint colours sorted, continue the layering effect with flooring, wallcoverings, furnishings and accessories. In any neutral scheme, it is surfaces that are the star, and success comes from choosing textures – hard and soft, rough and smooth, squishy and knobbly – as carefully as you would colours.

Natural is key, so aim for simple upholstery, window treatments, bed linen and table linens, in fabrics that have subtle and attractive variations in texture – crisp linen,

Inspired by classic wingback chairs, these stately beds have ample storage space concealed beneath.

Kenley ottoman storage bed in oatmeal fabric, £699.99 (double), Furniture & Choice: 0333 015 0000; furniturechoice.co.uk

51

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52

Win a pair 0f 2022

Saints Memberships!

This year, the Totally Wicked Stadium will see the return of Saints fans for the first full campaign since the pandemic started, and the Club can’t wait to welcome everyone back home for more nights to remember!

including Jack Welsby and Lewis Dodd.

There’s no doubt that Saints will again be the team to beat in the Betfred Super League.

The Super League and Challenge Cup winning Head Coach Kristian Woolf is at the helm again for the Saints, and he’ll be leading the charge for another tilt at even more silverware to follow the team’s ‘three-peat’ of Super League titles.

As part of the build-up to the start of the season in February, Local Life are delighted to run a competition to win a pair of 2022 Memberships for the full season of home matches at the Totally Wicked Stadium, starting with the match against Catalans on Thursday 10th February 2022.

Kristian will oversee a team that’s filled with top-level talent, including a host of exciting new recruits such as Curtis Sironen, Konrad Hurrell, James Bell and Will Hopoate, who join our new breed of homegrown stars

The Memberships included in the prize are located in the Totally Wicked North Stand Bronze seating, and have a value of over £600 combined.

For further information about 2022 Memberships please visit www.saintsrlfc.com/memberships

53 To enter the competition to win a pair of 2022 Saints Memberships, simply visit our website, www.locallife247.co.uk, click on ‘free stuff’ and then on ‘competitions’ and then answer the following question; In the past three years, how many times have Saints won the Betfred Super League?

The expiry date for the competition is midnight on Monday 31st January 2022 and the winners will be notified within 72 hours. Entrants must be over 16 years of age. Only one entry per household. Local Life 247 cannot accept responsibility for entries that do not reach us. Employees of Local Life 247 Ltd and their families are not eligible to enter this competition.

54

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55

56

Home Security: How safe is your home?

The ways in which we protect our homes have changed.

From CCTV systems to good old-fashioned burglar alarms, the list of home security gadgets is endless. But just how safe is your home?

Last year there were more than 260,000 cases of home burglary in the UK, the majority of which were conducted by amateur thieves. Statistics show that your home is five times more likely to be targeted if no visible security measures are in place.

How do I know if my home is secure?

With an understanding of basic theft prevention and an assessment of your property’s security, you will be in a better position than most to know if security improvements are needed.

Keep valuables out of sight Removing valuables from an outside viewpoint gives thieves no reason to target your property. This includes car keys, smart devices, bags and jewellery. Even the packaging of expensive items shouldn’t be left outside as this acts as an advertisement to criminals.

Check for vulnerable entry points Forcing entry to a doorway is the most common tactic for burglars to enter your property. Ensure all entrance points are secured with suitable locking mechanisms.

Windowless doors with a minimum of two locks are best.

Keep sheds and garages secure Thieves will often enter a rear garden to obtain tools from a shed or garage. Never give an intruder the opportunity to use your own belongings against you.

Think like a thief Attempt to gain access to your own home without using a key. Understanding your home’s weaknesses will help you to understand what improvements are needed.

Don’t make it easy for them If you lose your house keys, replace the locks immediately.

You should never leave house keys under the doormat or flowerpot; this is the first place intruders will check.

The most effective methods for protecting your home Under lock and key – the simplest solutions are always the most effective. Over 70% of home intruders gain access to properties by entering the front door.

Always ensure it remains locked, along with all other entrances, windows, gates and garages.

Let there be light – outdoor security lighting on timers or infrared motion sensors are a low-cost solution for deterring would-be intruders. Make sure you focus on dimly lit areas, which are hotspots for attacks, muggings and altercations with criminals who can take possession of your house or car keys.

Smile for the camera – an alternative option to a full CCTV system without breaking the bank is a wireless doorbell camera. Burglars tend to knock on the front door before entering a property, to check if anyone is at home. With a door camera you will naturally deter intruders, be able to see who is knocking on your smart device and have the added benefit of recording their face should future evidence be required.

Home and away – the longer a house is uninhabited the more vulnerable it becomes. Use automatic lighting and timers for electronic devices to come on in the evenings, to give the illusion that your house remains occupied.

Play it safe – if all of the above fails and an intruder has managed to enter your property, fear not. With a simple safe box your goods stand a better chance of remaining in your home. Fixing your safe securely in place in a hidden spot is the tried and tested method for preventing thieves escaping with your valuables.

57

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58

Fresh starts Give your New Year’s resolutions a helping hand…

Running Made Easy – Lisa Jackson and Susie Whalley Whether you’ve got your mind set on running a marathon this year, or you just want to complete Couch to 5K, this book could prove as invaluable as the right pair of trainers. Within its pages, you’ll find plenty of tips, running plans and advice, mainly aimed at beginner runners. Perhaps most importantly, however, you’ll also find lots of motivational real-life stories of people who’ve used running to dramatically improve their lives..

The Book of Hopes – Edited by Katherine Rundell This book brings together poems, short stories, essays and illustrations – all designed to ‘comfort, inspire and entertain’. It’s perfect for dipping into on a coffee break or when you’re in need of a moment of solace. While it’s aimed at children, there’s no reason why The Book of Hopes can’t be enjoyed just as much by adults. A beautiful book to give or receive.

Everyday Cook – Donal Skehan Is your New Year’s resolution to cook more meals from scratch? Most of the recipes in Everyday Cook are designed to take you from fridge to table within half an hour. (Some dishes can be whipped up in just fifteen minutes.) There are also meals to freeze for days when you really don’t have the energy to cook. The recipes might be simple, but they’re far from boring. Think Cheat’s Spring Risotto, Kung Pao Chicken and Aubergine, and Spicy Prawn Aglio e Olio.

The Wildlife Gardener – Kate Bradbury British wildlife has declined dramatically over the last few decades. Once common species, such as the hedgehog, are under threat. If you want to play a role in helping to reverse the decline, this book is a good starting point. It’s packed with practical tips on encouraging all manner of wildlife into your garden. You’ll find step-by-step projects, ideas for plants and plenty of gorgeous photography. And you’ll also be taught how to identify some of your new garden visitors.

Farrow & Ball Recipes for Decorating – Joa Studholme Planning to refresh your home in 2022? Before you go anywhere near a paintbrush, get some advice and inspiration from the experts. Farrow & Ball’s no-nonsense guide covers everything from creating different moods using colour, to tackling common problems such as dark rooms and small spaces.

There are several case studies and tons of photos. Whether you’re craving an ultra-modern living room or want to bring some country-cottage comfort to your kitchen, this book is for you.

The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide – Jen Gale Going green can feel pretty daunting, but this book sets out small steps we can all take to help combat climate change, reduce plastic and cut waste. It’s about making more conscious, informed choices – from small swaps that you’ll barely notice to more impactful life changes. There are no lectures, no guilt trips and no preaching – just relatable, easy-to-read advice and ideas.

59

Parkside Plans Go Ahead Almost thirty years since its closure in 1993, Parkside Colliery in Newton-le-Willows is about to be transformed as a major industrial estate and logistics hub.

The Parkside development has been hailed as a project that will bring ‘significant economic benefit’ by the Government. In his response approving the plans Michael Gove agreed with the inspectors that the first phase of the regeneration of the former colliery site in Newton-le-Willows would help deliver great benefits not just for the borough but the entire region.

The announcement also saw approval of the Parkside Link Road, which will create a direct link between the site and the nearby M6.

The first phase will cover a 93,000 square metre site, bringing almost 500 jobs during the construction and the potential of more than 1,300 new jobs offering a variety of skills in the completed buildings.

St Helens Councillors are ‘keen to get moving’ on turning Parkside plans into reality as they approve plans that will see its transformation start early next year.

St Helens Borough Council’s Cabinet have approved the next steps for the development which will see Balfour Beatty start work on the site in early 2022 to create the Parkside Link Road.

Councillors also approved plans as part of the joint venture that will support the bringing forward the construction of phase one of the development.

Councillor Richard McCauley, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning, said: “Parkside has significant regional importance as a large scale economic growth opportunity and will put St Helens back on the map as an economic power.

“Michael Gove on his approval of the plans last month highlighted the significant economic benefits of a site at the sweet spot between Liverpool and Manchester.

It is also why Parkside has been identified as the largest custom and tax site in the Liverpool City Region Freeport plan.”

Cabinet also approved the release of funding for the link road along with the necessary additional land acquisition to make junction improvements at the junction of Southworth Road and Parkside Road to comply with planning conditions.

What’s on at Willowbrook For further details, events and bookings, please see willowbrook.org.uk/events January 2022 Thurs 6th-Fri 14th (weekdays only) – CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING March 2022

Weds 9th – AFTERNOON TEA ** Sat 19th – BLACK KNIGHTS SKYDIVE April 2022

Sun 3rd – THE BIG, BIG TEA PARTY and BOUTIQUE MARKET – at St Helens Hotel May 2022

(date tbc) ANTIQUE VALUATION WITH ADAM PARTRIDGE ** Sat 7th – BORN SURVIVOR MANCHESTER Weds 11th – AFTERNOON TEA ** Fri 20th – PLANT SALE ** June 2022

Sat 25th – WILLOWBROOK 25th ANNIVERSARY MOONLIGHT WALK ** July 2022

Sun 3rd – LIVERPOOL TO CHESTER 50 MILE BIKE RIDE AND 5 MILE TUNNEL RIDE Sat 9th – LIVERPOOL CATHEDRAL ABSEIL Sat 16th – OPEN GARDENS – at Willowbrook Hospice ** denotes event at Willowbrook – The Living Well, Borough Road, St Helens, WA10 3RN

Every Contact Counts Registered Charity No. 1020240 Registered Charity No. 1020240

60 KEEPING YOU UP-TO-DATE

Newsletter Friday Quiz Nights

The Beer Festival is Back for 2022!

The ever-popular Annual Beer Festival will be held at the Village Hall 11 – 13 February 2022. As in previous years, we will be showcasing beers from around the region and, of course, the Gin Table will be available for those not partial to a pint. Entrance is £3 per person with tokens for beer available separately. If you are an individual or business interested in any of the sponsorship deals available, please contact Vicky Swainbank on 01744

Free Quiz nights will continue in the New Year on 7, 14

884709 or email admin@rainfordparishcouncil.gov.uk

open at 7pm and the free quiz starts at 7.30pm. Book a

Business Around Rainford

table for up to 6 team members by calling 01744 884709

The next breakfast forum for Businesses in Rainford and

or email office@rainfordparishcouncil.gov.uk

Rainford residents who have businesses will take place on

& 28 January 2022 and 11 & 18 February 2022. Doors

The Christmas Quiz night on 03.12.2021 was a great evening. Congratulations again to the winning team and a great big thank you to Andy who sets and presents the On 04.02.2021 there will be a special quiz night to raise funds for the Parish Council’s Chairman’s charity for the Tickets are £7 each

including a hotpot supper. Teams of up to 6. Please call 01744 884709 to book your table or email office@ rainfordparishcouncil.gov.uk

Parish Council Meetings Community Liaison Committee 05.01.2022 and 02.02.2022

Health & Safety Committee 07.01.2022 and 04.02.2022

Finance Planning & Administration Committee 12.01.2022 and 09.02.2022

Full Council meeting 24.01.2021 and 28.02.2022.

All meetings take place at Rainford Village Hall.

Residents are encouraged to address members on matters of concern to them and are very welcome to attend meetings.

along, have some breakfast and meet other business owners in Rainford.

To book a free place call 01744 884709 or email admin@

quizzes, assisted by Rob.

year, Rainford Heritage Society.

26.01.2022 from 8am – 9am at the Village Hall. Come

Further information on the Parish Council

website: www.rainfordparishcouncil.gov.uk or call 01744 884709

rainfordparishcouncil.gov uk

The Village Hall Rainford Village Hall is currently undergoing some major renovation works. The Parish Council have commissioned work from stonemasons as some of the stone work on the front of the building is delaminating. Over the past 12 months, the Parish Council have paid for extensive repairs to our lovely Village Hall, which is now 115 years old.

The decorative brickwork above the entrance to the bar area had to be removed as it was leaning at a dangerous angle and the chimney stacks have been repointed.

Additionally, work has been undertaken on the main roof and brickwork on the bar side of the building. Although the hall doesn’t look so good with the scaffolding across the front, the facilities are the same inside and it shouldn’t be there for much longer.

Rooms are still available to hire from just £10 per hour for classes, meetings, parties, anniversaries, events and Wedding Receptions. Call 01744 884709 or email admin@ rainfordparishcouncil.gov.uk to discuss your requirements.

Rainford Community Cinema In the New Year, we will be putting together a programme of Cinema showings for the year. Watch out for the upand-coming films in the next issue of our newsletter.

Rainford Christmas Fayre The Parish Council, in conjunction with St Helens Rotary organised the Rainford Christmas Fayre which had to be moved into the Village Hall at the last minute because of

61 in accordance with national policy. Consultation is now being undertaken on them.

For further details on the consultation, please visit www. sthelens.gov.uk/localplanmodifications

the adverse weather conditions. Despite this, the Fayre was a great success with some wonderful stalls, fabulous entertainment from Rainford Band and The Ladies Choir and, of course Father Christmas in his grotto accompanied by some fantastic elves. It was great to have photographers from Rainford High School keeping a record of the event for us. Thank you to everyone who helped make the day a great event.

New Councillors Rainford Parish Council welcomes 2 new members who were recently co-opted: Councillor Tracey Denton (Mossborough Ward) Councillor Andy Griffiths (Muncaster Ward)

Community Speed Watch and Road Safety The speed watch volunteers are finally out and about in the village, looking out for speeding vehicles and illegally parked cars. The aim is to make it unacceptable

There is still a vacancy on the Council for Junction Ward,

to break the speed limit and stop inconsiderate and

so please contact the Clerk if you would like to know

dangerous parking throughout Rainford.

more about the role and responsibilities of being a Parish Councillor.

Most of the speeding vehicles recorded so far are Rainford residents!

One driver was even caught

St H elens Borough Local Plan Main Modifications public consultation

speeding twice in the same session!!

The schedule of proposed main modifications for the

Council have wheelie bin stickers for 30mph roads

St Helens Borough Local Plan 2020 – 2035 submission

and 20mph roads.

draft and supporting documents have been published for

outside houses once a fortnight, they have been

consultation.

shown to be very effective in slowing vehicles down.

St Helens Council submitted the draft for examination in October 2020. 2 planning inspectors were appointed and a series of public hearing sessions were held in May and June 2021. The Inspectors have now considered

So, to any

Rainford drivers who think it’s OK to speed through our lovely Village and park inconsiderately and illegally, it is not.

To try and get vehicles to slow down, the Parish Although these only get put

The stickers are available free of charge from the Clerk’s Office in the Village Hall. If you and your neighbours all use them, this will be another way to tackle speeding vehicles.

all the evidence put before them and have identified a

If you would like to get involved in the Speed Watch

number of Main Modifications to be made to the Local

scheme, please contact 01744 884709 or email

Plan Submission Draft in order for it to be found ‘sound’

clerk@rainfordparishcouncil.gov.uk

RAINFORD PARISH COUNCIL Rainford Village Hall, Church Road Rainford WA11 8HB

01744 884709 clerk@rainfordparishcouncil.gov.uk @rainfordvillagehall

@rainfordparishcouncil

62

Missing out on Higher-Rate Tax Relief?

Are you a higher rate taxpayer and investing into a pension?

Did you know that you need to claim the additional higherrate income tax relief for your pension? A recent study has found that up to 80% of higher-rate taxpayers have missed out on a significant amount of available pension tax relief between the tax years of 2016/17 and 2018/19.

Alternatively, you can write to your HMRC tax office, outlining how much you have paid in pension contributions, and you will also need to provide personal details so that you can receive the tax relief. You will need to contact them every time you have changes to your pension contributions or your salary.

An estimated total of £810 million went unclaimed by more than 1.5 million higher and additional-rate taxpayers in the 2018/19 tax year. This unclaimed tax relief, between the tax years of 2016/17 and 2018/19, totals £2.5 billion.

You’ll receive your tax relief as a rebate at the end of the tax year or a reduction in your tax liability or a change to your tax code.

Tax relief is one of the advantages of using a pension to save for retirement. It can add a real boost to your pension and incentivise you to save for the future.

Here’s five things you should know about tax relief; 1. Higher and additional-rate taxpayers must claim their additional relief The basic rate of pension tax relief is 20%. So, a £100 pension contribution would cost you just £80, with the government adding the remaining £20. If you have a relief-at-source pension, your pension provider will claim this tax relief automatically. However, it is only the basic rate of tax relief that is added automatically.

Higher-rate taxpayers are eligible for 40% tax relief.

Additional-rate taxpayers are eligible for 45% tax relief.

This added tax relief is not given automatically.

If you are a higher or additional-rate taxpayer, you will most likely need to complete a self-assessment, even if your pension is handled by your employer, to claim your extra 20% or 25% tax relief. According to research, some 80% of higher-rate and 53% of additional-rate taxpayers may have failed to claim this additional tax relief.

2. How to claim back the additional tax relief If you are a higher- or additional-rate taxpayer, you can claim your pension tax relief through online self-assessment.

In the relevant section of your online tax return, simply state the exact amount of your pension contributions.

This should be a gross calculation that includes your contributions and the basic-rate tax relief of 20%.

3. You can claim back tax relief from the previous four years.

You must make your claim within four years of the end of the tax year you are claiming from.

4. Everyone is entitled to tax relief up to the Annual Allowance Each tax year, there is a limit on how much you can contribute into your pension and still benefit from tax relief. This is known as the Annual Allowance. In the 2021/22 tax year, the Annual Allowance stands at £40,000 or 100% of your earnings, whichever is lower.

It’s also worth noting that once you start to draw flexibly from your pension, the Money Purchase Annual Allowance is triggered. This reduces your Annual Allowance from £40,000 to just £4,000. If you plan to continue paying into your pension, you may want to avoid drawing from it early to maintain the maximum amount of tax relief you can claim.

5. A financial planner can help identify and manage all your available tax relief At Callisto we’re here to help you get the best out of your finances, and to help you achieve your financial goals. That includes making the most of your pension tax relief. Please contact us for a complimentary review of your finances.

Andrew Platt CFPTM Chartered MCSI

A pension is a long-term investment not normally accessible until age 55 (57 from April 2028). The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up, which would have an impact on the level of pension benefits available. Your pension income could also be affected by the interest rates at the time you take your benefits.

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Take the first step today towards enjoying the rest of your life.

Call us on 01744 881421 to arrange a no-obligation consultation at our new Rainford offices. Remote consultations also available.

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64

Puzzle Pages CROSSWORD

down

1. Copyist, scribe (9) 2. Implanted device that controls heartbeat (9) 4. Milky plant substance that coagulates on

exposure to air (5)

5. Sell illicit products such as drugs or alcohol (7) 6. Unwanted email (4) 7. Fencing sword (4) 11. Mental illness in which the mind is dominated

by a single thought or idea (9)

12. Of a triangle, having two sides of equal length (9) 14. Container used to store jam, dried fruit, etc (3) 15. Facility caring for the terminally ill (7) 18. Make cloth by interlacing threads (5) 19. Strong, forceful wind (4) 20. Mammal having partially webbed feet; valued

across

for its fur (4)

3. Onyx marble (9)

15. Ugly, evil-looking old woman (3)

8. Crack in a lip caused usually by cold (4)

16. Citizen who has a legal right to vote (7)

9. Pretending one set of feelings and acting under

17. Devoutly religious (5)

21. Breathe out (6)

the influence of another (3-5)

10. Glacial period in Earth’s history (3,3)

22. Early Christian church (8)

13. Greek muse of love poetry (5)

23. Bake in a kiln so as to harden (4)

14. Painfully desirous of another’s advantages (7)

24. Apiarist (9)

Wordwheel Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten minutes to find as many words as possible, none of which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns.

Each word must be of three letters or more, all must contain the central letter and letters can only be used once in every word. There is at least one word that uses all of the letters in the wheel.

target Excellent: 20 or more words Good: 16 words Fair: 12 words

T

I

W N E R

65

WORDSEARCH

Music Banjo

Drum

Sitar

Bass

Flute

Tambourine

Bodhran

Guitar

Trumpet

Castanet

Harp

Viola

Cello

Mandolin

Violin

Chimes

Oboe

Cittern

Pennywhistle

Clarinet

Piano

Cornet Cymbal Didgeridoo

SUDOKU

word LADDER Change one letter at a time (but not the position of any letter) to make a new word - and move from the word at the top of the ladder to the word at the bottom, using the exact number of rungs provided.

F OOT

WIGGLE WORDS CLUE: to talk nonsense and say things that aren’t true.

Trace a path through all the letters to find the word or phrase that fits the clue.

R T O B

I F O E

A H L F

T O L U

YARD

All the puzzle solutions can be found on page 80 of this magazine

66

Darwen Moor

by Chris Pearce Distance: 5 miles Difficulty: Medium

To help those of you who are working hard to get yourself fit for the new year, we headed out to Tockholes for a walk that is sure to get anyone’s cardiovascular system racing.

At just over five miles, this Darwen Moor walk dips into the area around Higher Roddlesworth Reservoir, levels out at Earnsdale Reservoir before the climb to Darwen Moor, and enjoyed wonderful views across Lancashire.

We start at the car park next to Vaughns Country Café at the foot of the Moor (BB3 0PA). Please make sure you use the rear of car park, which is for the use of walkers, rather than the front of the car park which is for the Royal Oak pub next door.

Take the public footpath opposite the pub and head down the steps, passing the ruins on the right, and carry on downhill where you’ll see glimpses of Roddlesworth through the trees. Once you reach the wooden fence at the bottom, turn right to walk around the right-hand side of Roddlesworth.

After 300 yards, you’ll approach a

fork – take the lesser-used uphill path to the right. Follow this through the woods until you reach the Tockholes Road. Turn left and follow the road until you reach Fine Peters Farm. Cross over and go through the gate at the left-hand side of the farm, following a track.

The track (Dean Lane) starts to climb, affording super views, and then dips to a crossroad of paths. Carry straight on down the cobbled path (Donkey Brow) and this will eventually bring you out at Earnsdale Reservoir. Follow the path round Earnsdale and stay on the tarmacked road uphill until you reach Waterhouse (1897). Carry on in the same direction for 50 yards and then take a right turn up the concrete road.

Just before the second bend on the concrete road, there’s a gap in the safety barrier; go through the gap and follow the well-defined path until you come to a gate, set in a drystone wall. Go through the gate and follow the path for 150 yards until you arrive at a wider path. Turn right and go through the entrance to Darwen Moor.

67 Further up the path you reach a fork, here you take the main left fork and climb the hill until you get to the tower.

Go round the tower to the left and you’ll see a path running away southwards towards the mast; take this path and when you reach a junction (look for the bench), turn left for 150 yards until you reach a marker that indicates the West Pennine Way/Witton Weavers Way junction; here you take a sharp right uphill along Witton Weavers Way.

Sunnyhurst Tockholes Road

ay rs W ave Houghton Farm We n to Wit Green Hill

Tockholes

Road

Sunnyhurst Clough

Earnsdale Reservoir

Sunnyhurst Hey Reservoir Tockholes Number 1 Plantation

Sniddle Hill Farm

Ryal Fold Jubilee Tower

Darwen Hill

Tockho les Road

k

roo

kB

ac

pb

Tockholes Number 2 Plantation

Higher Wenshead

Ste

P

Waterfall New Barn

Tockholes Road

Higher Roddlesworth Reservoir

Duckshaw Clough

Darwen Moor

For those with the OS Maps app on your desktop, mobile or tablet, this walk is named:

White Hill

JT-Darwen-Moor Cartridge Hill

68

junction; here you take a sharp right uphill along Witton Weavers Way. Darwen Tower can get pretty busy with walkers sometimes, but once you get up onto the top of Darwen Moor the crowds start to thin out and you can appreciate the amazing countryside views. Follow the path for almost a mile until you reach a gate with a bench just the other side of it. Go though here and wind your way downhill until you reach a stone marker by a wooden gate.

Go through the gate and take the path that cuts a visible green swathe through moorlands. Follow this somewhat muddy path uphill again and immediately after you have gone through a second gate, bear left downhill and follow this muddy path down to New Barn Farm.

Bear right when you have reached the farm, so through another gate and follow that path for ¼ mile until you once again reach the Witton Weavers path. Take a sharp left through a gate and then follow that path for a further ½ mile downhill until you return to the car park where you started.

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

A history of

Darwen Tower Darwen Tower is a Grade II listed structure which was built in 1897/98 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, but to the people of Darwen it symbolises something more fundamental – the right to access to Darwen Moor.

Back in the 1870’s, the Lord of the Manor, a Reverend called Duckworth who lived in Somerset, instructed his gamekeepers to block the ancient rights of way onto the Moor.

Coal supplier William Ashton took exception to this move, he had to supply farmers who lived on the Moor, and when Duckworth’s gamekeepers blocked his way, he unblocked it. After a few bloody skirmishes, the issue went to court and by

1896 the townspeople had regained the right to use the moorland footpaths. Ashton had died a couple of years earlier, but his three sons led a celebratory procession up on to the moors to the spot where the Tower now stands.

The victory coincided with the town’s desire to celebrate Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee. An anonymous letter to the local paper suggested a landmark be built on the Moor to commemorate the Jubilee and also to celebrate the freeing of the Moors. The townspeople rallied behind the idea and the tower was opened in September 1898 by the Reverend William Duckworth himself.

70

All the colours of the rainbow Joy in the winter garden The start of a new year is the perfect time to review your patch of outdoor space to ensure it fills you with joy. You need either strong structural design or a wonderful array of rainbow shades, punctuated by architectural forms.

Planting a rainbow Aim to provide something that fits into the chart of the seven visible spectrum colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Almost certainly, you will already have some green, but there are many different shades.

The secret is to have one shade of green set off against another – dark and light is the classic combination. You can play with greens all year round, but January is the month they can really bring the show alive.

Reds for the winter garden Think about stems and bark as well as flowers, foliage and berries, and there is a feast of red opportunity. The fiery stems of Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ or Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ will set the border ablaze, particularly if you prune down your cornus in late winter or very early spring so that the new growth is pleasingly vertical. The rich mahogany bark of Prunus serrula, or Tibetan cherry, can look stunning against a backdrop of dark green hedging or the brown leaves of winter beech. Lower to the ground you might consider heuchera such as H. ‘Forever Red’ or H. ‘Paprika’. Then we have rhododendrons, some of which can be adorned with a blousy show of scarlet this month.

Create orange and yellow sunshine in the garden With ornamental grasses in borders or pots, January will glow. Clumps of tall miscanthus with its warm, yellow-orange stems and seed heads will look dignified in January, providing structure and colour. Choose an orange-stemmed cornus for vertical accent and dot these plants around in repeated forms to bring the picture together. Plant Eranthis hyemalis, the winter aconite, under deciduous shrubs to create a spreading, golden carpet and consider Mahonia ‘Winter Sun’, a magnificent structural shrub with yellow, scented winter flowers to transform a shady corner.

Beat the winter blues with garden blue, indigo and violet Blue fescue is an evergreen grass that can create winter blues and there are plenty of conifers and shrubs with steely-blue foliage to provide structure and colour, including Juniperus ‘Blue Star’ and Pittosporum ‘Wrinkled Blue’. Eucalyptus gunnii, with its strikingly blue juvenile leaves, can be tamed by clipping for winter beauty. For an indigo or violet hue, consider the conifer Cryptomeria japonica, which turns a pleasing shade of purple in winter.

Evergreen heucheras can provide low mounds of purple foliage to line paths and provide a safe haven for wildlife.

Your winter garden is likely to be viewed through glass for much of this month, so help it to come alive with colour!

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72

Used car bargains: the models that are escaping the big price rises In recent months, with new car production badly affected by a shortage of components – namely due to limited supplies of semiconductors, which are used in everything from reversing cameras to safety assistance systems – buyers are flocking to used cars like never before.

SUVs play an equally important part. Take the X3 M Competition, for example, the brand’s entry-level M model in the SUV line-up – though with its 503bhp twin turbo 3.0-litre engine under the bonnet, it’s far from basic in terms of performance.

It’s having a huge knock-on effect on the prices of used cars too – especially on the models with long waiting times for a brand-new version. In fact, recent data from automotive analysts Cap HPI showed that values rose by 20.3 per cent in a five month period, with some cars jumping in value by nearly 50 per cent in that time.

If you wanted a new model it would set you back an eyewatering £83,000 (and that’s before you’ve chosen any optional extras). But by looking at used versions instead you can save a considerable chunk of money. We found a 2020 car with just 5,000 miles on the clock for £60,000, which is a vast saving off the original list price.

It means that used cars are now pricier than they’ve ever been. However, there is still a range of models that continue to offer great value for money. Here are the used car bargains still available.

Vauxhall Astra

BMW X3 M Competition BMW’s M division is best known for its sports saloons like the M3 and M5, but these days the brand’s sporty

Though Vauxhall’s Astra might not be the most aspirational car in its class, that has never harmed its popularity. And it’s this that works to its advantage if

73 you’re looking for a bargain, as with the huge choice of models available, it helps to guarantee you a great deal on a used example.

So while the soon-to-be-replaced Astra might cost you £20,000 new, by looking at nearly-new versions you can quite easily save yourself well in excess of £5,000. We spotted a 2020 car with under 10,000 miles on the clock for just £13,495 – you’d struggle to find a new city car for that price. While it’s often overlooked, the Astra is still good to drive, looks good and has a practical interior that is ideal for families.

Volkswagen Arteon Sometimes the best trick to finding a used car bargain is to choose a car that flies under the radar, and one great example is the Volkswagen Arteon. It’s the brand’s most ‘executive’ model these days, yet despite its striking design it’s often cast aside by buyers who favour a more premium badge.

By doing so they’re missing out on its refined driving experience, upmarket interior and efficient engines, though. However, you can use this to your benefit, as a 2020 car in high-spec R-Line trim with low miles is available from around £26,000 – an almost ridiculous £13,000 less than the list price of a new example. So, while used car values might be rising at a silly rate, there are most certainly still bargains that can be had.

Audi e-tron Due to the increased popularity of electric cars, it often means bargains are quite rare. One exception to that rule is the Audi e-tron – the brand’s flagship SUV – which, despite its high-quality, tech-laden interior and comfortable drive isn’t holding its value quite as well as you might expect.

But that just makes it a terrific used buy, especially as a 2020 car with under 10,000 miles on the clock can be had for £45,000 – a huge £15,000 saving on what you’d pay for a brand-new model. Just be aware that this applies to the ‘50’ model with the smaller battery option, which only allows for an electric range of around 200 miles.

Mercedes SL While Mercedes might be gearing up to launch its new ‘SL’ as its convertible flagship, its recently axed predecessor is well worth your attention. Though more old-school in its character, this glamorous drop-top is still dripping in class, with a punchy engine that would prove effortless on the longdistance trips this Mercedes is meant for.

Though no longer available to buy new, a factory-fresh version would have set you back upwards of £80,000. But today, you could expect to find a one-year-old example with just a few thousand miles on the clock for around £65,000. Granted, that’s still a lot of money, but a very generous saving off the original asking price.

74

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KEYS LOCKS SAFES • Repairs & Upgrades on all locks, including UPVC • Safes supplied & installed • Key cutting service • Emergency call outs welcomed • All work guaranteed Call your local lock expert for a free quote

GARAGE DOOR

REPAIRS All garage doorS repaired:

All Electrical Installations, Maintenance & Repairs

Springs, Cables, Locks, Rollers etc.

From full re-wires to outside lighting to socket replacements No job too small 24/7 emergency call-out with no call-out charges

Doors of all ages repaired

01744 894939 / 07891 330214 NO FIX, NO CHARGE! Strawberry Cottage, Pimbo Road, Kings Moss WN8 9QL

www.garagedoorandlock.co.uk

Over 30 years’ experience Call Steve on 07874 352501 or 01744 368055 www.billingeelctrical.co.uk Est.1975

Rainford Electrical

Established 1970

Call us now on

01744 732 256 Visit our showroom: 2, Lingholme Road, St Helens, WA10 2NS

All electrical work undertaken from full re-wires to alarms/CCTV. No job too small.

Quality Flooring Fitter required for these pages

No call out charge – guaranteed.

30 years experience.

Call Steve on

07809 427 508

Call 01744 649722

LocalLife

www.locallife247.co.uk

www.hjselectricalservices.co.uk

COMPUTER PROBLEMS?

Broadband broken, computer slow printer packed up, virus/spyware or your keyboards gone kaput Bodtree Systems fix all types of PC problems in the comfort of your own home

All aspects of domestic work undertaken Lights, Sockets, Fuseboards etc Electric Oven & Shower Repairs P.A.T. Testing & Inspection

Small jobs a speciality Call Alan Leigh on

01744 883883 496434

or 07884

W.Hurst & Son Ltd ELECTRIC CONTRACTOR

• No Call Out Charges • Local Company • PC Experts

www.bodtree.co.uk

Electrical Installations & Repairs

www.whurstandson.co.uk We repair: 4 Phones & Tablets 4 Laptops & PC’s 4 Gaming Consoles 4 Apple Watches We also build gaming PC’s to all specifications.

If we can’t fix it, no one can!

QUALITY service FREE estimates FAST turnaround

Call Catherine Now 07540 222787

Call the Tech Guys on 01744 410554 or email info@techguys360.co.uk www.techguys360.co.uk

Tel: 01744 778381 - 01942 418763

1st Floor, Rainford Parish Council Offices, Church Rd, Rainford, St. Helens WA11 8HB

• All types of electrical work • 35+ years experience • No job too small • Friendly and reliable For a free quote & advice call Jeff

01695 622 191 07850 622 191

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Call us now for ALL your roofline requirements!

Facias, soffits, cladding, dry verge and gutters We specialise in seamless aluminium gutters.

• • • •

Timber cladding Bespoke furniture All aspects of joinery Fabrication / steel work Contact:

07800 580532 01744 747787

Clean, stylish and guaranteed for 25 years!

Call: 07917 352 182 / 07917 352 183

www.funkytimber.co.uk Unit 17b, Wharton Street, St Helens, WA9 5AA

www.orrellroofline.co.uk

Puzzle Solutions CROSSWORD

WORDWHEEL

Across: 3. Alabaster, 8. Chap, 9. Two-faced, 10. Ice age, 13. Erato, 14. Jealous, 15. Hag, 16. Elector, 17. Pious, 21. Exhale, 22. Basilica, 23. Fire, 24. Beekeeper.

DOWN: 1. Scrivener, 2. Pacemaker, 4. Latex, 5. Bootleg, 6. Spam, 7. Épée, 11. Monomania, 12. Isosceles, 14. Jar, 15. Hospice, 18. Weave, 19. Gale, 20. Mink.

WORDSEARCH

SUDOKU

aNSWER: WINTER

T I W N E R

WIGGLE WORDS To Be Full of Hot Air

WORD LADDER Here is one possible solution (others may exist) FOOT hoot hood hoed heed herd hard YARD

PUB QUIZ 1. Alan Turing 2. Volkswagen 3. Little Mix 4. Boohoo.com

5. Harry Kane and Harry Maguire 6. Liverpool 7. Bitcoin 8. The Great Ouse

9. Anthony Hopkins 10. USA, China and Japan

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Misty Windows?

Don’t pay to replace the frame – we’ll replace the panes instead!

10 year guarantee on all sealed units

We also replace; 4 Door locks & door lock mechanisms 4 Window locks, hinges and handles For Fast Efficient Service Call;

Damp Control

We use state of the art diagnostic equipment to provide a comprehensive assessment of your damp issues.

Free quote and advice provided for any remedial works needed.

For a reliable, friendly service call Matthew on

07840 096 233

Matthew Rigby

01744 810 000

Property Services

www.northwestwindowrepairsltd.co.uk

Damp Control Specialists

• WILSON •

BROS

Our Focus Is Quality & Price

JJ Driveways Imprinted Concrete Specialists

Huge range of colours & patterns • Resin Driveways • Block Paving • Indian Stone • Flagging We can also revive your old drive!

Ask about our sealing service

Call Joe for a free quotation on

01942 621 959 07867 697 972

www.jjdriveways.co.uk

Convert your bath to a

Walk-In Shower

Est. 1985

Roofing & Roofline Specialists • All aspects of maintenance & repair • Fascia & soffit installation • Guttering and felting services Call us now for a free estimate

01695 633173 Colin: 07958 302 166 Brian: 07760 160 988 www.wilson-bros.co.uk

From a Loose Slate to a Complete Construction LOCAL FAMILY FIRM

Extensions & Alterations Specialists

All aspects of Building & Roofing UPVC Rooflines References Available

Call us on... 01744 600074 Mobile: 07867 592460 13 Hawes Ave, Carr Mill, WA11 7EA

AJC WALK IN SHOWERS Typical price

£2200 Fully guaranteed One day installation No mess - no fuss Easy to clean & maintain

Call Anthony on

07919 876 825 Workshop address: Bulldog Tools Ind. Est. Darlington Street East, Wigan WN1 3BT Microshop address: Hardshaw Centre, Church Street, St. Helens WA10 1EB

We also fit full bathrooms!

9th February

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Forgotten Buildings:

Winstanley Hall a BrightEr orrEll sandstonE trail Walk

ABC1 homes

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WIN a luxury Spa Day for Two!

© David Bancroft Photography

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in Autumn

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Heritage

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Come and visit the largest showroom in the North West Quality installations of windows, doors, fascias, soffits and gutters First for quality First for service First for reliability No contractors No salesmen Just a smile and a honest price from a family run business

Transform your conservatory into a home office

NEW Generation Rockdoor now available

SISTER COMPANY OF FOXWELLS BUILDERS Established since 1999

Call us for a Free Quote Office Number: 01942 871 777 Victoria Industrial Estate, Victoria Street, Leigh, WN7 5SE warmlightwindowsltd.co.uk • info@warmlightwindowsltd.co.uk

Representative example: Total cash price £1164, deposit £0, amount borrowed £1164 over 12 months. 12 monthly repayments of £97. Interest rate 0%. Total repayable £1164. Credit is subject to the lenders T&C. Warmlight Windows, Doors and Conservatories Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority FRN 7700524. We are a credit broker, not a lender and have a facility with one lender.

Tomorrow’s Home Improvements Today!

Quality ~ Choice ~ Value Windows

Bi-Fold Doors

Thermally-efficient conservatory roofs expertly fitted by accredited installers

Orangeries

©

Don’t just lock it, Rock it!

Conservatories

Manufacturers and installers since 2004

Contact us on 01744 891717 for a no obligation quote

28544

Visit our showroom/factory at; Crows Nest, Ashton Road, Billinge, WN5 7XX (near Windy Arbour crossroads)

www.orrellwindows.co.uk