Local Life - Wigan - August 2017

LocalLife Wigan Edition

August 2017

Full steam

ahead at Haigh Hall Win tickets for

Southport Flower Show Local News Motoring Jack’s Tracks Garden Diary Event2Go Home Services locallife247.co.uk

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Anyone for

A

tennis?

round this time every year, when it’s nice outside, I’ll slope out of the office midafternoon for a few days. My colleagues think I’m taking an early dart to catch up with the tennis on telly, but the truth is rather less appealing – I’m doing my annual update of all the new houses being built, with a view to adding them to our magazine distribution. And with all the new housing estates going up in Standish and in Shevington, I’ve been a bit busy, I don’t mind telling you.

If you’re one of the residents on these estates and you’re getting Local Life for the first time, welcome to Wigan and welcome to Local Life. We’re an independent publishing company from Wigan who publish five monthly magazines, (Wigan, Chorley, West Lancs, Leigh and St Helens) and we’ll be delivering Local Life through your door on a regular basis.

You’ve made a great choice moving to Wigan!

Yes, it’s got great connections with the rest of the North West, but there’s plenty going on locally, and it’s the sort of place where you can still converse with an absolute stranger at a bus stop without feeling as though you’ve committed a crime.

There’s some beautiful countryside right on your doorstep too, as illustrated perfectly by our latest Jack’s Tracks on pages 74-77 which takes you through Jolly’s Valley, a green and ancient oasis on the borders of Haigh, Standish and Whitley. You can also download other Jack’s Tracks walks free from our website www.locallife247.co.uk Have a great summer…see you next time

Chris Pearce - Publisher chrisp@locallife247.co.uk

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In this issue Full steam

ahead

Regulars 38 Class From The Past 78 Test Drive 48 Puzzle Corner 81 Garden Diary 62 Events2Go 98 The Lump

Sections 24 Summer days

out

6 Property 10 Local News 42 Health 56 Legal & Finance 58 Business View

68 Food & Drink 77 Pets 81 Gardening 84 Home Services

Next issue - September 2017

Advertising deadline - Thursday, 10 June

51 Win tickets to

Southport Flower Show 66 Jack’s Tracks visits

Jolly’s Valley

74 Test Drive

Peugeot 3008

78 locallifemagazine247

Published - Thursday, 24 June

LocalLife Local Life 247 Ltd, Unit 8, Hewitt Business Park, Winstanley Road, Orrell, WN5 7XB

Telephone: 01695 627 999 Publisher: Chris chrisp@locallife247.co.uk Sales: Chris, Sally sales@locallife247.co.uk Editorial: David wigannews@locallife247.co.uk Design: Peter, Dylan design@locallife247.co.uk Distribution: Sally sallyb@locallife247.co.uk Accounts: Sam accounts@locallife247.co.uk Local Life is published every month and distributed into the following areas on an alternate monthly basis.

This issue is delivered to 13,039 private homes and businesses in Standish, Shevington, Whitley, Appley Bridge, Standish Lower Ground, Aspull and Haigh.

The next issue is delivered to 13,034 private homes and businesses in Orrell, Billinge, Winstanley, Up Holland, Highfield, Marus Bridge, Roby Mill and Pemberton.

You can also pick up a free copy of Local Life at Sainsburys or Tesco Extra in Wigan.

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.

@locallifemedia

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New beginnings Pupils at Shevington Community Primary are being transferred to Shevington Vale a month earlier than planned.

Interim executive headteacher Karen Tomlinson told parents that children will be starting in September rather than October.

The decision to close Shevington Community Primary was made earlier this year. Falling pupil numbers among local schools was blamed for the decision.

An open evening is being planned for Tuesday, July 18, from 5pm-7pm when pupils past and present are invited to share their memories of the school. Local archivist, Louise Wade, whose children

went to Shevington Community Primary School between 2002 to 2010, will be putting on a display of artefacts from the past. Everyone is invited to go and have a look around and talk with old friends.

Writing to parents, Mrs Tomlinson said: “I took the decision over half term to transfer all the children from September instead of October. This was not taken lightly but with the best interests of all our children at the forefront of my thoughts. Building work is now well underway at Shevington Vale.

“Closing a school is a painful experience and, I can assure you, one I will never forget. All I can say is that all the staff, governors, local community and children in Shevington and Appley Bridge have pulled together to support each other during difficult times. Of that, I am very proud.”

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Friends of Standish Library need gardening volunteers to help maintain the pots in the front garden. Individuals or groups are invited to adopt a pot, select the planting scheme then plant, weed, water, prune and refresh the contents of the pot throughout the year. To volunteer, select a pot and register your interest on the Friends notice board at the library, on Cross Street, or email standishlibraryfriends@gmail.com

Library’s plea Aspull Library is in urgent need of volunteers.

People with as little as two hours a week to spare are being encouraged to step forward as soon as possible. For more information, email k.collins@ wigan.gov.uk

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Nursery is ‘good’

Performers wanted

A local nursery has been rated ‘good’ by Ofsted.

Next Generation Nursery & Schoolies Club Ltd,

Potential performers are being urged to step forward for a special celebration. Shevington Youth Club is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the opening of its present building on Saturday, December 16. The club will be holding a Variety Show in the club at 7pm that evening. Members of the community who feel they could offer an item - a song, a dance, humorous story, conjuring tricks or musical performance - are invited to get in touch with the club or call 01257 423342.

on Wigan Lower Road, Standish Lower Ground, received a glowing report. Inspector Karen Cox said the nursery has friendly staff who create a relaxed atmosphere where every child is valued and included. She added: “Staff provide a wealth of exciting play opportunities that children enjoy.

Overall, good quality teaching from the enthusiastic staff team helps all children to make good progress.

“To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should support staff to recognise when to offer children more time to consider their thoughts when they ask them questions, and review and improve the organisation of mealtimes so that each child’s individual needs are fully considered.”

Home plan Garages in Crooke Village could be demolished for housing. Plans have been submitted for the site at Crooke Road for the demolition of the existing garages and proposals to erect a detached, three bed home. A decision is expected later this year.

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Hunt on for owner

Parking charge increase

Parish councillors are on the hunt to find the owner of Haigh Windmill. They want to find out as much

The cost of parking at Wigan Infirmary has gone up.

Hospital bosses defended the move, saying it’s the

information as possible, including whether the mill was inspected and by who, as well as a list of repairs needed and the cost.

first change in patient parking charges since 2015.

Parking for up to 30 minutes remains free but all other charges are increasing. They are as follows: one to two hours (£2.70), two to four hours (£5) and over four hours (£6.50). The cost of parking for up to one hour at Wrightington and The Linacre Centre is going up to £1.70.

In 2009, Haigh Parish Council agreed to set aside funds annually towards repairs to the windmill.

Later that year the council had received £250 from The Friends of Haigh Windmill, this being the closing balance for the group.

The outcome of the parish council clerk’s research is set to be discussed at the next meeting, on Monday, September 11, at 7pm in The Stables, Haigh Hall. All members of the public are invited to attend.

A spokesman said: “The Trust Board has agreed that car parking charges should be increased by an average of 10% to reflect the current costs and the principle that car parking should not be subsidised at the expense of patient services.”

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Tell Us Your Story!

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

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

Meet new friends A project to combat social isolation among older people is holding outreach events across the area.

Connect Up is aimed at helping people integrate back into the local community.

It meets regularly at the following locations: Tuesdays, 10am-noon at Mealhouse Court, Atherton Wednesdays, 10.30am-12.30pm: Greenwood Road, Standish Thursdays, 1.30pm-3.30pm: Clifton House, Keats Avenue, Poolstock Fridays, 2pm-4pm: Brookdale Court, Pennington Road, Leigh For more information, call 01942 615884.

Simply email us at wigannews@locallife247.co.uk

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One long tea break!

Town hall bosses refused to disclose how much they paid for free cuppas at meetings - because it would take over 168 hours to work out the answer.

They were quizzed by a resident over how much free coffee, tea, milk, and sugar they’d laid on at public events and meetings in the last 12 months.

The resident also wanted to know the name of the supplier.

But in an official reply, Wigan Council said that the cost of retrieving the information would exceed the allotted time for research under the Freedom of Information Act.

tric band “Inhypnosis total for the 2016/17 financial year there are 5,050 relating to invoices and purchase he power oftransactions your mind to think yourself full.

milk and sugar is not supplied free of charge, all associated costs are recharged to individual service departments.”

The Freedom of Information Act came into force in 2005, and can be used by residents to scrutinise the workings of public bodies. However, former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who brought in the Act, said he later regretted it, branding himself as “an idiot, naive, foolish, irresponsible nincompoop.”

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Distributors

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Local Life require distributors for the following areas;

Proposals to add to the green belt in Standish could be subject to further consultation this autumn.

wanted Standish Wigan Road area

Preston Road, Rushwood Park area Pepper Lane area Old Pepper Lane area New Barrowcroft Green estate Shevington New Oakwood Meadows Estate Elnup Ave, Elmfield & Broadlands Distributors typically work for 2-3 hours every 8 weeks.

Applicants must be aged 13+ and be fit, enthusiastic and reliable.

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Please email your name, address, landline number and date of birth to sallyb@locallife247.co.uk

LocalLife

possible

Wigan Council’s planners have confirmed they are assessing sites in the borough, including land between the southern end of Bradley Hall Trading Estate down to the rear of Lordy Close.

It comes after the new Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, ordered a ‘radical rewrite’ of the controversial GM Spatial Framework document, which includes the proposal.

Under the original scheme, vast areas of Green Belt across the region were proposed for development.

They include a site in New Springs bordering Leeds & Liverpool Canal to the north-east, the Haigh Plantations to the west, the B5238 Wigan Road to the south-east and the former Alexander Colliery site to the south. However, even before Mayor Burnham took office in May, he had signalled that the project could be shaken up following protests across the area.

Earlier this year, Local Life revealed how council officers are bracing themselves for legal challenges over their wish to add the Standish plot to the green belt - mainly from developers and landowners.

Marie Bintley, assistant director for growth and housing at Wigan Council, told Local Life: “All evidence and representations submitted for the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework is currently being reviewed. Following the Mayor’s announcement a clear time frame has yet to emerge but we anticipate a further draft will be subject to consultations in autumn this year.”

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18

‘I’m not going to be a

pushy parent’ A

By Lisa Salmon

fter becoming the most successful female track cyclist in Olympic history, Laura Kenny is seeking a new challenge.

The four-time Olympic champion is aiming for more cycling golds at the Tokyo 2020 Games after she has her first baby with fellow Olympian husband Jason Kenny, this summer.

Despite saying after the last Olympics that she didn’t want to juggle children with her cycling career, the golden girl is now looking forward to doing just that. The excited mum-to-be says her pregnancy “wasn’t a plan as such”, but explains: “Both me and Jason had decided we wanted children, and I’d also decided that I wanted to go to at least one more Olympics if I could, so we thought this would be the year to do it if we were going to do it.”

The former Laura Trott, 24, who married six-time Olympic gold medal cyclist Jason Kenny last September, is now 22 weeks pregnant. The Kennys know the sex of their baby, but are keeping it quiet. But is Laura hoping her son or daughter will eventually follow in its parents’ golden Olympic footsteps?

She’s already hinted at such aspirations, tweeting during the last Olympics: ‘I love him to bits @

JasonKenny107! Our kids have to get some of these genes right?’ For now, she says: “Me and Jason do lead quite active lifestyles, and I know how much we’ve enjoyed cycling. I’d love it if our kids enjoyed it as well.”

The seven-time World Champion cyclist has had no morning sickness, and cheerfully reveals she’s simply “carrying on life as normal”, remaining very active by cycling up to two hours a day on the bike in her garage, going to the gym and swimming.

19

20 “We’ve tailored everything back a lot, so I’m not doing anything 100% and I’m not going at anything full gas,” she explains.

bike rides - it can be playing in the garden or taking the dog for a walk.

She stops when she wants to at the gym, and admits: “If I feel like I’ve had enough, then I can it. It’s never really about finishing a session, it’s just about keeping active.

The research also found a third of parents worry they aren’t good role models for their kids, with over half of children saying they’re healthier than their parents. That clearly won’t be the case in the Kenny household, although the mum-to-be insists she won’t be pushing her child into activity.

“I didn’t want to put my body in complete shock.

Obviously, I’ve never grown a child before, and I didn’t want to stop what I’d always known.”

Kenny says she wants to keep active for as long as possible before her baby arrives, but she has no idea, of course, when she’ll get back into training after the birth. “I want to start again afterwards - I want to go to the 2020 Olympics, and I don’t want to be so far away from where I was,” she stresses.

“I don’t want to put a date on it - people always say, ‘When are you coming back?’. But I haven’t even had my baby yet!

“I’m not going to know how fit I can be until I start training again, but the Olympics is what I’d like to be training for.”

In the meantime, Kenny is using some of her rare inactive time to encourage other families to get active together. She’s promoting the Disney Let’s Go campaign, which aims to encourage parents to share their stories on how they inspire their family to be active, and offers video tips about family activities. “For me, being active as a family is massively important - that’s how I got into cycling in the first place,” says Kenny.

“I always found it so much more fun going out with my dad, mum and sister than just going out and riding my bike on my own. It’s an easier way to live a healthier life.”

Disney research has found that, while more than half of parents and children believe being active together would make them want to be healthier, 57% of parents say lack of time is the main activity barrier. But Kenny insists being active doesn’t need to take lots of time.

“It doesn’t have to be going out for massive long

“Doing it together makes it a lot more enjoyable.”

“I think it’s hugely important not to push children to do exercise, but to lead them in that direction.

I’m certainly not going to be a pushy parent,” she declares.

Instead, this modest queen of the cycling track says she’s simply looking forward to doing all the active things she used to do when she was young with her own child, like playing tennis in the garden with her mum and dad, and, of course, cycling.

“We could go on family bike rides like me and my parents used to do. I would honestly love that.”

As well as maintaining an exercise routine, Kenny has been enjoying the more mundane aspects of future parenthood, like painting the nursery with her husband.

“We chose to paint the nursery ourselves and it’s nice, isn’t it?” she says. “It feels like a little project that me and Jason can do together.”

The young couple have also been marvelling at the amount of ‘stuff’ their parents are buying for the new arrival.

“It’s the first grandchild for both sets of grandparents, so they’ve just gone mad with it,” laughs Kenny.

“My mum’s the world’s biggest hoarder, and it’s finally paid off because she kept everything from when me and my sister were little, so we’re just going to use all that stuff as well, which is nice.

“It’s got so much stuff already, it’s ridiculous. It’s the most loved baby ever!”

For more information about Let’s Go, visit www. disneyhealthyliving.co.uk

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Why not study

music & media?

F

or students just finishing their GCSEs or wanting a change of career pathway, The Music Projects is a specialist college for Music, Media and Games. With very high achievement rates, the best music facilities around and staff working within the creative industries, this could be your opportunity to kick-start a new and exciting career. You will work with established bands, gain experience of live events and come out with a great CV as well as qualifications for university or employment.

Career pathways are more diverse than ever before.

The creative industry is growing rapidly and so too are the careers in the industry, with skills gaps growing year after year.

One of the more diverse pathways for 16-18 year olds is the Access to Music option, provided locally by The Music Projects as an alternative to going to one of the local general education colleges.

At their centres in Pemberton, Hindley and Skelmersdale, The Music Projects offers a dedicated music and media learning experience.

The Music Projects is a specialist college for anyone wanting a career in the creative industry. Delivering excellence in 7 courses, Music Performance, Composition, Technology, Business, Creative & Digital Media, Live Events/Event Management and Games Design & Development; with outstanding success rates and destination outcomes.

Achieve a level 3 on one of these courses and it’s worth 3 ‘A’ levels and will carry full UCAS points for students to progress to university.

The experienced staff at The Music Projects are passionate about music and media and so are their students, who thrive in a friendly and creative

environment with similarly like-minded people. The courses are based on the achievement of course work rather than exams, which means that students can achieve through the completion of practical real-life projects, rather than tests of knowledge and memory.

Bursaries are available too – students can earn up to £99 per week to support study costs.

Ed Sheeran himself attended an Access for Music course after dropping out of mainstream college, and this allowed him to explore his creativity and develop his skills as a musician and performer. Ed is now is a patron for Access to Music and other students include Rita Ora, The Saturdays, Tom Flynn, Dan Van, Let’s Eat Grandma and Laura Welsh.

If your 16+ is passionate about making a career in music, design and/or game development, call The Music Projects 01942 212 607 for more details and a tour of their facilities.

The Music Projects, 830 Ormskirk Road, Pemberton, Wigan WN5 8EX www.music-projects.com

23

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24

Full steam

ahead

David Sudworth meets the Wiganers who are just loco about engines...

I

t wouldn’t be summer without a spot of rain, but it’s positively teeming down at Haigh Hall. In fact, the elements are so bad for the time of year, someone has even lit the woodburner.

Not that a bout of inclement weather will stop members of Wigan & District Model Engineering Society. Come hail or shine, they’re dedicated to bring smiles to the faces of children and adults alike.

“Usually, it’s the adults who are trying to get the kids to sit on the train. But that’s only because they want an excuse to go on!” laughs club member Chris Winstanley.

Founded exactly 70 years ago, it’s fair to say its presence is somewhat overshadowed by the larger ride-on train at Haigh Hall. It’s tucked away just round the corner, but those who do find it are glad they did.

“It actually is a hidden gem,” says chairman Phil Somers. “Some people who’ve lived in Wigan all their lives don’t know we’re here, and have been since the 1940s.”

25 The ride-on miniatures, set on a track of approximately a third of a mile long, are open to the public on Wednesdays and Sundays, weather permitting. Even if, like today, the gods are against them, members can still be found doing maintenance.

While all forms of models are supported within the society, a large proportion of interest is in model steam locomotives – predominantly 3.5 inch and 5 inch scale.

The track itself was built in three stages.

The original stretch was built in 1947 and was extended in 1974.The final extension, which took it to its current length of1,744 ft, was finished in 1984.

Among their members, there are some fascinating stories. One member, Jimmy

“It’s Wigan’s hidden gem” Crooks, worked with late Fred Dibnah on his Made in Britain TV show.

“He was alright was Fred. A nice guy,” says Jimmy.

“Me and some others helped him build a steam powered engine.

He knew he had cancer, but wanted to get the engine done. It was used at his funeral.”

Phil Somers, who only got involved with the society a few years ago, is the grandson of Oliver Somers, one of Wigan’s best known sports shop owners.

In fact, Phil ran the old Oliver Summers cycling shop in Wigan town centre until it was demolished for the new ring road almost 40 years ago.

26

“We look after all the gardens around the track as well, so there’s always something to do. Some fellas who can’t do as much will just come down to the hut to pass the time of day. It’s as much a social thing as anything else.”

The members are now gearing up for their annual open day, which takes place this year on Sunday, July 30.

The all-day spectacle sees locos from right across the country descend in the society’s part of Haigh Hall.

“It’s something we all look forward to, and it’s a great day out. Let’s just hope the weather is better than it is today!

Like many societies, they have a number of older members, so are keen to recruit new members.

Wigan & District Model Engineering Society holds monthly meetings to discuss and debate model engineering topics and presentations from various local and national speakers. It is held on the last Tuesday of every month at St Mary’s Parish Centre, Standishgate, Wigan, from 7.30pm.

“It’s much more than just playing with trains,” says Phil.

For further information on the society, visit www. wigandmes.co.uk

27

Iron Man comes to town Motorists are being warned of delays as the Iron Man contest comes to part of Wigan and West Lancashire.

The event takes in Wrightington and Standish as over 2,400 athletes from more than 40 countries descend on the area on Sunday, July 16. Details are as follows: Standish (8am-4pm) The race travels along Pepper Lane from the B5250 Mossy Lea Road and on to the Preston Road where it turns left towards Charnock Richard and Coppull.

The Preston Road A49 offers local access but delays may occur on the Preston Road A49 at peak times.

Organisers suggest using the M6 motorway where possible to avoid delays.

Eccleston (8am-4pm) There will be restrictions to the north and south of the town. Organisers recommend using junction 8 of the M61 via the A581 for journeys north and south of the bike course.

Westhoughton The bike route joins the A58 Cricketers Way from Platt Lane and proceeds west from Chequerbent roundabout on the A6 Manchester Road before turning right onto Chew Moor Lane. These roads should be avoided between 6am and 9.30am on race day.

For more information, visit www.eu.ironman.com

Wrightington (8am-4pm) Full road closures will be in place on the bike course as it follows High Moor Lane, Robin Hood Lane, Moss Lane, Courage Low Lane, Toogood Lane and on to Church Lane. The B5250 Northbound (Wood Lane) from Wrightington will be closed between 8.00am and 4pm.

Heskin (8am-4pm) The bike course does not travel through Heskin however roads in the surrounding area are impacted so planning your route during the above times is sensible. Access is available from the north via Charnock Richard or Eccleston. There is no vehicle access southbound on the B5250 Mossy Lea Road from Church Lane through Wrightington and down as far as Pepper Lane between 8am and 4pm. Roads such as Barmskin Lane, Bannister Lane, Halfpenny Lane and Salt Pit Lane are only accessible from the north.

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28

Kids dig gardening!

An area in Aspull has been given a new lease of life thanks to a valuable pot of funding.

Aspull in Bloom were awarded money from Wigan Council’s Deal for Communities Investment Fund and the Better Neighbourhood Fund which they have used to run the Incredible Edible project.

Community spirit was in full flow with volunteers and primary school children spending the last 12 weeks sprucing up their local area and planting tasty treats.

Children from St. David’s and Our Lady Primary School also sowed seeds ready to go into the new site. Once the produce is ripe residents will be invited to pop down and help themselves to the produce.

Aspull Cllr Chris Ready said: “It is wonderful to see that the Community Investment Fund is continuing to be invested into our local areas. It also allows young children to take pride in their local communities.”

If you would like to get involved and be part of Aspull in Bloom contact inbloom@wigan.gov.uk

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Crowdfunding bid Wiganers can now make online donations towards a permanent memorial to the town’s mining past.

A Just Giving Page has been launched by a Wigan Heritage and Mining Monument (WHAMM) member.

They believe the town’s industrial past has, up until this point, largely been forgotten. But they’re delighted that moves are now afoot to rectify this.

Around £40,000 has already been pledged by a variety of individuals/organisations, including the Earl of Crawford and the Heinz branch of Unite the Union. However, they are still £60,000 short of their target for the memorial, which is due to be sited on College Avenue, between the town hall and the Life offices building.

Donate to the Wigan Heritage and Mining Monument, visit https://www.justgiving.com/ wigan-heritage. Alternatively, you can do a bank transfer to the Market Place branch of the Yorkshire Building Society - account number 81327874, sort code 60 -92-04, reference 8132787407.

Still time

FREE PICKUP & DELIVERY

There’s still time to enjoy a spot of bowling in Shevington this summer. The green at Forest Fold, Miles Lane, is open until September 30, from 8am to sunset. Individual membership is £20. For more information, contact the parish council clerk on 01257 473022.

Good Samaritan Volunteers are needed to help out at the Samaritans shop in Hallgate, Wigan town centre. Anyone with a few hours to spare can contact Jean on 07425 166842.

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36

From cradle to grave The man who feeds Wiganers from cradle to grave is hanging up his chef’s whites.

feel I have done my best work. You don’t come into catering to make a fortune; you want to please people. We are here for the patients of the borough and they are the most important thing for us.

Paul Riley, 58, joined Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust in 1991 and has worked his way up from catering supervisor to become hotel services manager.

“I have gone from the bottom of the team to running it. My team will be in good hands and they will go from strength-to-strength. I wish them well.”

Paul said: “There’s been a massive change in hospital

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He said: “In some ways I don’t feel old enough to retire but the world’s my oyster now. I have only happy memories working for the Trust. It’s here where I

schools throughout the North West, including 3,000 sandwiches with 27 different fillings and 150 litres of soup. No added salt is used, just a low salt bouillon and instead of butter they use Flora spread.

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37 catering over the last 10 years. We have to make things as healthy as they can possibly be without compromising on flavour.

“Also, as my generation comes into their 60s and are more inclined to eat multi-cultural food, we are seeing menus begin to change, whereas until a couple of years ago we were still serving mainly traditional British food. We are still here to feed the patients of Wigan borough but we have got a massive external business now of nearly £4m including supplying eight other hospitals, as well as schools and nursing homes.

“This means I feed Wigan folk from cradle to grave.”

Before joining the Trust, from the age of 17, Paul was a chef in the Army and undertook three tours of Northern Ireland.

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38

Class from the past

This month’s Class from the Past is from Crooke School and was taken in the early 1960s. Maybe

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39

Alan’s all heart A big-hearted author is donating the profits from his latest book to the Joseph’s Goal charity. Alan Rogers’ novel, Final Instinct, is the third instalment from the former St John Rigby student.

He hopes it’ll raise some valuable funds to help find a cure for Non-Ketotic Hyperglycinemia (NKH), the rare condition which Wigan lad Joseph suffers from.

Alan told Local Life: “It’s an attempt to explain NKH to a wider audience Emma Kendrick, Joe’s mother, wrote a chapter about Joe and NKH, and I sort of worked around that. We’ve tried to make a funny, entertaining book about a serious subject.”

Final Instinct is available as an e-book from Amazon, priced at £2.99.

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Funding boost Nine local groups went away with a donation from the recent Wigan Rotary Clubs Dragons Den event.

25 organisations applied and the three dragons, Rotary President Maureen Bilsbrough, former Westfield Children’s Centre manager Aujke Clegg OBE, and chartered accountant Peter Cheetham invited 11 groups to pitch for a share of £5,000.

The winners were: Dance Syndrome; Wigan & Leigh Deaf Children’s Society; 4th Wigan St Mary’s & St John’s Guides; Spring View Over 60s Club; Trinity Church Young Carers Groups; Wigan MS Therapy Centre; More Than Words Wigan Cosmos FC and Lifelines Dementia Friendly Community Cafe.

40

Radiology ‘resilience’ worry Ormskirk Hospital bosses have raised concerns over resilience if there is another cyber attack.

A report to the Southport & Ormskirk NHS Trust board said there were “particular concerns” about its radiology equipment during the major incident in May. This has now been flagged up with NHS England.

The report also revealed the extent of the disruption to staff and patients: “The Trust was functioning entirely on paper without the support of a number

of essential clinical systems. Throughout the entire period the Trust protected the A&E department and the emergency and urgent elective surgery lists to ensure patient safety. The Trust has already begun a process of learning lessons from the major incident.

During the major incident there were particular concerns about the resilience of radiology equipment and regional contingencies to support single points of failure. This concern has been fed to NHS England with the suggestion that a specific session be held to consider radiology resilience and contingency from a Cheshire and Merseyside perspective.”

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42

Health & Fitness

Bowel

cancer

By Abi Jackson

N

early 98% of people will survive bowel cancer if it’s detected at stage 1, a figure that drops to 10% if diagnosed at stage 4.

Awareness campaigns, plus the NHS screening programmes for people aged 55 and 60-plus, mean generally, the prognosis has improved for older age groups, those most likely to get the disease (around 94% of the 41,200 people diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK are over-50s).

But the number of younger people with bowel cancer has increased by 45% since 2004. There are currently more than 2,500 new cases a year in the UK in under-50s - and they are much more likely to be diagnosed late.

According to Bowel Cancer UK, three out of five will be diagnosed with cancer that’s already stage 3 or 4. A third (34%) only find out they have cancer in an emergency situation, after having to visit A&E, for instance, because symptoms have reached a crisis point - despite the fact they may have been seen a doctor numerous times.

43 Mark and Beth Lyson recall how their daughter Hannah - the 20-year-old who amassed thousands of followers when she blogged about fighting bowel cancer, before passing away in January this year - was “back and forth to the doctor” for years.

At first diagnosed with an inflamed gut, later in 2013, her GP said she probably had irritable bowel syndrome [IBS], the common, benign condition associated with a range of digestive symptoms.

Hannah was prescribed medications to help with chronic constipation and worsening back pain, but no tests were carried out.

“The main thing she went back with was her back, she was always complaining about her back,” says Beth, 55. “Then in August 2015, she went to Florida with her boyfriend and was sick a few times. We thought perhaps it was something she was eating, because of the doctor saying it was irritable bowel.”

But the vomiting continued, on and off. “She’d be sick for a day, then she’d go a couple of weeks and

be fine, then she’d be sick again,” says Beth.

Mark, 52, recalls encouraging Hannah to return to the doctor, but “she was saying, ‘Well it’s a waste of time going because they don’t do anything’.”

The tipping point came when summer 2016 approached. “Hannah was due to go to Camp America in June, and we were getting frightened that she couldn’t go, she was in that much pain,” explains Mark.

Beth took Hannah to see an on-call GP, and pleaded that tests be done to make sure she was well enough for her trip to the US. All they wanted was reassurance it was safe to allow their daughter to jet off to America. But two weeks later, in May 2016, Beth and Mark found out that their sporty, Disney-loving 19-year-old girl, who didn’t drink, didn’t smoke - didn’t fit any of the atrisk categories - had a tumour in her bowel, and four tumours in her liver.

44 “She already had her case packed for America, she was that organised,” recalls Mark. “She had her T-shirts, shorts, flip-flops and all these things. The case was in the conservatory with name tags on it...

It was devastating.”

Even the doctors were shocked, saying it was the youngest case they’d ever seen. And it was shocking, but looking back, Beth and Mark, from Burscough, Lancashire, can see that opportunities to discover the cancer sooner were missed.

“Bowel cancer in younger patients is becoming more common; we don’t really know why,” says Willie Hamilton, professor of primary care diagnostics at the University of Exeter Medical School.

What he and his colleagues - who’ve teamed up with Bowel Cancer UK’s Never Too Young Campaign, Durham University and University Hospital of North Tees - are certain of, is that more can be done to ensure young people with bowel cancer get diagnosed as early as possible.

Based on research, they’re launching a new risk assessment tool, published in the British Journal Of General Practice and funded by the Department of Health, designed to help GPs identify when symptoms in the under-50s might indicate a serious bowel condition, including cancer or inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s, as opposed to more common conditions like IBS. A scoring system will indicate whether the GP should simply monitor how the symptoms progress, recommend tests such as checking stool samples for signs of inflammation, or refer somebody for an urgent colonoscopy or to a specialist.

“The key thing is we now have a much stronger idea which patients with bowel symptoms might have an unpleasant disease - like cancer. We know which symptoms, like rectal bleeding or diarrhoea, should be tested, and what test to use,” says Hamilton.

Systems like this level out the playing field too, as often symptoms can be vague, plus the severity of

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45 symptoms doesn’t always reflect the seriousness of the underlying cause.

For Dave Smale, 36, who was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer this January, the only symptom was stomach pain. “He started getting stomach pains, which correlated with when he’d been eating,” explains his wife Katie, 31. “We later found out this was because everything was trying to come past the tumour in his bowel, it was obstructing everything. But at the time, we were racking our brains about what it could be. We thought perhaps it could be a food intolerance, or IBS.” That’s what Dave’s GP thought too at first. But a few months on, the pain became severe, and Dave was referred for tests. He was told he could be facing a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease, but the results were

far worse - cancer, that had spread to his liver and stomach lining.

Dave’s already had major bowel surgery and is currently undergoing chemo, with more surgeries to come. Life’s been turned upside down for the couple, but their 15-month-old daughter, Maisie, is keeping them laughing and little things, like prechemo date nights, plus support from family and friends is helping.

Katie’s grateful Dave persisted with going back to the doctor, and says “I think he’d started Googling about how people had been misdiagnosed with IBS and it turned out to be something worse”.

46 “Most patients can be managed entirely within their GP’s surgery, but some will benefit from tests of their faeces, and a few will need an urgent colonoscopy.”

In the eight months Hannah fought bowel cancer, she managed to inspire thousands, and help fundraise, through her positive blog posts.

“No parent should have to go through what we went through,” says Beth. “When it’s caught early, you can save somebody’s life. People need to wake up.

Of course, “IBS is real, common and troublesome”, stresses Professor Hamilton. “We need to identify bowel cancer as early as we can, but we do have to remember most patients with bowel symptoms do not have cancer. GPs have always had to do a delicate balancing act between testing too few patients and testing too many.

“Even when she was really poorly, Hannah always wanted to keep positive, she’s always been like that, she wanted to raise awareness with her blogs and videos. That’s why we’re supporting the Bowel Cancer UK’s Never Too Young campaign. It’s what Hannah would have wanted. “ For more information about bowel cancer, visit bowelcanceruk.org.uk

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Puzzle Corner

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SUDOKU WIGGLE WORDS CLUE: A bit of a botch Trace a path through all the letters to find the word or phrase that fits the clue.

T I A K

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Henry runs a book store and has several old maps for sale. Using the clues below can you match each of the maps to the cartographer, subject matter, publication year and price?

CLUES 1. The most expensive map was created by Senex 2. Bowen did not create the map dated 1767 3. The map costing £300 was for Scotland 4. Desbarres created the map for Russia 5. The map for Eastern Europe was created in 1713

All the puzzle solutions are on page 92 of this magazine

LOGIC PROBLEMS

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50

Planning Matters Aspull

Standish Lower Ground

31 Scot Lane : Proposed vehicular access (dropped

Car park, Royal Oak Hotel, 56 Wigan Lower Road: Erection of three dwellings, associated parking and provision of car parking for the Royal Oak, together with formation of new vehicular access on Wigan Lower Road (ref: A/17/84131/CU).

kerb) (ref: A/17/84049/HH).

The Stables, Bradshaw Hall Farm, Hall Lane: Change of use of part of a field to Equine Menage (ref: A/17/84293/CU).

Haigh 1A Copperas Cottages, Copperas Lane : Single storey extension to rear (ref: A/17/84189/HH).

Glassbrooks Cottage, Red Rock Lane: Erection of detached two storey outbuildingr (ref: A/17/84224/HH).

Standish 18 Cross Street: Change of use of ground floor to off licence (A1), conversion of first floor to one bedroom apartment, new enlarged shop window and door and single storey rear extension with roof terrace, balustrade and external staircase (ref: A/17/84179/CU)

Shevington 20 Broad O Th Lane: Change of use from residental to nail and beauty salon (ref: A/17/84131/CU).

For more information on these applications, visit www.wigan.gov.uk

51

Summer days

W

out!

ith the holiday season around the corner, Local Life looks at some of the many attractions in the North West that are perfect for a day out this summer. We’ve included some for sunny days and some for the showery ones too!

Botany Bay

Acorn Farm

Canal Mill, Botany Brow, Chorley PR6 9AF

Depot Road, Kirkby, L33 3AR

01257 261220

0151 548 1524

www.botanybay.co.uk

www.acornfarm.co.uk

Five fantastic floors of unique and interesting shopping, events and food. Botany Bay has some wonderful family days out awaiting you. Every Tuesday is filled with Folk and Fairytales, magical storytelling and workshops based on Brothers Grimm stories. Parents explore the variety of shops this wonderful building has to hold whilst your children adventure through Puddletown Pirates play area.

An award-winning, family friendly attraction in Kirkby where you can meet a wide range of animals, many of which you can feed and stroke.

Sheep, cows, goats, pigs, horses, chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs and even meerkats are all waiting to meet you. As a working farm, there are often baby animals including lambs, goat kids, piglets and chicks to see too. There is also a petting corner and horse rides throughout the summer holidays and many special events throughout the year.

The farm also has two outdoor play areas, a woodland walk, plant sales centre and a farm shop, where you can buy many items produced on the farm.

To conclude the summer holidays join Botany Bay as they host their annual Canal Fest. Relax over the bank holiday weekend with entertainment and festivities such as boat rides, classic car displays, hook a duck, birds of prey and much more.

Apple Jacks Adventure Farm Stretton Road, Warrington, Cheshire WA4 4NW 07980 973 475 www.applejacksfarm.co.uk A family farm on the outskirts of Warrington with attractions aimed at children with the addition of rides and zip-wires for older children. There’s also a massive maize maze (subject to availability) to challenge your powers of direction. The park has a big free car park and places to eat but feel free to being a picnic with you if you prefer.

Enjoy a summer day out with AJ, Sammy Squirrel and Dusty Bear, and let the adventure on the farm find you.

52

Bowland Wild Boar Animal Park Chipping, Preston, PR3 2QT 01995 61554 www.wildboarpark.co.uk This family run Animal Park, situated in the Forest of Bowland, has something for the whole family this summer. Discover and learn about animals whilst hand feeding them, with not only animals but walks, tractor and barrel rides and even the opportunity to stay overnight in one of their pods.

Many of the walks follow the scenic route along the River Hodder and with 30 acres of woodland to explore there is more than one adventure to be had at this attraction. Take in the beautiful views and spot the wild boars, Longhorn cows and many types of deer that wander throughout the woodland.

If you’re looking for a great summer time present, you could also gift them with an animal lovers dream, being a park keeper for the day. You will help out with the public activities and feeding animals throughout the day, what’s not to love?

Chester Zoo Moston Road, Upton-by-Chester, Chester, CH2 1EU 01244 380280 www.chesterzoo.org There’s so much to see and do you’ll not know where to start! There are over 15,000 of the world’s most exotic and endangered animals to discover in 125 acres of award-winning gardens. Start your exploration this summer and find out more about the wonderful wildlife and their immersive habitats.

Chill Factore Trafford Quays Leisure Village, Trafford Way, Stretford, Manchester M41 7JA 0161 749 2222 www.chillfactorie.com Enjoy thrills and spills of an indoor snow park which has age specific attractions to ensure nobody is left out.

Get a taste for skiing or snowboarding in a safe, fun environment and maybe even sign up for lessons!

There are also other activities such as a climbing wall, indoor skydiving, shops and restaurants.

Cedar Farm Back Lane, Mawdesley, L40 3SY 01704 822038 www.cedarfarm.net This year Cedar Farm celebrates 30 years of business, to celebrate they will be hosting multiple workshops, events and demos throughout the summer months for all the family to enjoy.

Cedar Farm has grown over the past 30 years continuously changing and creating a loving environment for their customers. A variety of shops, studios, a converted pig barn and design shed have formed a welcoming site for all ages. As the original pig farm has expanded, many other animals became additions to their family, unfortunately there are no longer any pigs but there are many other friendly farm animals for children to feed.

The converted pig barn plays host to multiple shops such as The Blonde and the Bears Hair Salon, Higham Beauty Studio, Julie Langan Glass and The Course Room which is a buzzing hive of activities throughout the week.

53

Crocky Trail Cotton Abbotts, Waverton, Chester, CH3 7PH 01244 336084 www.crockytrail.co.uk Get the whole family outdoors and enjoy a mile long adventure of pure adrenaline drenched fun as you run along the famous Crocky Trail scrambling through trees, climbing over crooked bridges and swinging over the fast flowing Crocky Stream.

Farmer Ted’s Flatman’s Lane, Downholland, Ormskirk, L39 7HW 0151 526 0002 www.farmerteds.com Originally a working pig farm, Farmer Ted’s has expanded and opened themselves up to the public. They listened to what their customers had to say and with two extra special attractions that happen throughout the year; Farmer Ted’s has only expanded.

With special Summer events such as Birds of Prey, Sheep Racing and the a spectacular Magic show at the Hectare’s Theatre, make sure you plan a day out to Farmer Ted’s.

Greenslate Greenslate Road, Billinge, Orrell, Wigan, WN5 7BG 01695 229150 greenslatefarm.org.uk Have a great day out at your local community farm.

Greenslate Farm is an up and coming community farm, with their brand new Straw Bale Café (opening 16/07/17). Come and meet the animals that reside at the farm and learn many new skills whilst there.

With special events going on throughout the summer months including their monthly vintage farmers market, there is lots of fun to be had down on the farm.

Haigh HallWoodland Park School Lane, Wigan, WN2 1PE 01942 828280 www.haighwoodlandpark.co.uk If you don’t know what you want to do this summer, Haigh Hall has it all. The new crazy golf reopened earlier this year, and the Kitchen Courtyard is complete with brewery, bakery, chocolatier and even their own ice cream maker. Adults can relax whilst the kids climb their way to the top in the adventure playground.

Although Haigh Hall is known for their golfing, they’ve introduced the brand new craze of FootGolf. This blend of sports means you think like a golfer but let your feet do the talking for you! It’s fun, simple and enjoyable for the whole family.

If FootGolf isn’t your cup of tea, then why not follow the Pig Trail, one of the many walks you can do around the 250 acres of Woodland Park, it will certainly tire the kids out!

54

Hoghton Tower

The Old Courts

Hoghton, Preston, PR5 0SH

Gerrard Winstanley House, Crawford Street, Wigan, WN1 1NA

01254 852986 www.hoghtontower.co.uk High on a hill in the heart of Lancashire sits an enchanting and unique destination for all to see. Dating all the way back to 1565, Hoghton Tower is a destination for culture, education and entertainment.

This summer you can enjoy some of the historical events the tower has to offer, with a traditional farmers market held every third Sunday of the month and an outdoor theatre summer season performing some of the classics.

01942 834747 www.theoldcourts.com Find something to enjoy this summer at The Old Courts. From art exhibitions in the Isherwood Gallery, to regular music, dance and exercise classes and of course the one-off music events in the Grand Vault. The venue ensures a range events and activities that the whole community can take pleasure from.

Martin Mere Fish Lane, Burscough, L40 0TA 01704 895181 www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/martin-mere Join Dusty Duck and team for lots of exciting adventures this summer. The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, which aims to maintain and save the wetlands, encourages everyone to become one with nature.

There is 3,000 hectares of wetland with some of the rarest birds in the world and you could have the chance to learn about them and even feed them.

You could be one of the million visitors they have every year and become involved with the charity.

St. Helens North West Transport Museum The Old Bus Depot, Hall Street, St. Helens, WA10 1DU 01744 451681 (voicemail during weekdays) www.nwmort.co.uk The museum houses a large collection of historic road transport vehicles including buses, cars, lorries and motorbikes. Take a journey back in time and enjoy a free ride on one of our heritage buses on the first Saturday and Sunday of each month. With classic shows and events throughout the year, learn about what used to drive along our roads.

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56

Financial Planning

Choosing Your

Financial Adviser

by David K Barton APFS Cert CII(MP),

Chartered Financial Planner and Managing Director

A

good financial adviser is like gold dust. Like your most influential teacher at school, they should inspire as well as reassure you in order that you can enjoy a better financial future. A poor adviser will put their interests before yours and will sell you a product you don’t really need and have no interest in

planning requirements.

A clear plan A good adviser will spend considerable time listening to you and ask questions to help you define your short, medium, and long-term objectives, to meet your desired future lifestyle. Your adviser will create a financial plan to meet your objectives, ensuring that account is taken of tax-efficient planning such as pensions, and considering estate planning too, if that is a priority. A financial plan is a living plan, so your adviser should review and update the plan on a regular basis as your circumstances change.

Relationships count Your relationship with your adviser is absolutely key.

They will become an important professional person in your life so it is essential that you get on well. Ask yourself whether the adviser really cares about you, genuinely wants you to reach your goals, and is willing and able to challenge you along the way.

your future.

Worryingly both advisers will be FCA registered, both have at least a Level 4 qualification (it is now the minimum standard to trade as a financial adviser ), and both will sound plausible.

So how do you select the right adviser for you?

The right qualifications You want an adviser who takes professional knowledge and development very seriously and is completely independent. Look for an adviser who is a Chartered Financial Planner or a Certified Financial Planner - or is actively working towards these qualifications.

These are Level 6 qualifications - equivalent to a university degree and are the “Gold Standard” amongst financial advisers. Advisers who have achieved this level of technical competence have demonstrated that they are capable of dealing with clients that perhaps have more complicated financial

And finally, fees Fees should be open, transparent and fair. Given that a good adviser could potentially make a difference of many thousands of pounds to your financial position over time, it’s important to base your decision primarily on qualifications, approach and relationship as opposed to price alone.

Should you wish to have a chat with one of our financial planners please feel free to give us a call on 01257 423800. We are on the high street in Standish and have client parking. The initial meeting is at our expense and of course is without any obligation.

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Whether you’re already retired or you’re planning to retire soon, make positive plans and prosper.

Call us today for a friendly consultation

01257 423 800 Prosper Independent Financial Advisers Ltd. Prosper House, 99a High Street, Standish, WN6 0HD

www.prosper-ifa.co.uk

58

Bid deadline extended A tender period for three iconic buildings at Wigan Pier has been extended following “significant” developer interest.

Wigan Council unveiled a six-week tender period in May for bids to be made to develop the three Wigan Pier buildings.

Since the bidding period opened, council chiefs say there has been a huge amount of interest from developers in the buildings with leisure, hotel, commercial, residential and creative uses being put forward.

Feedback from developers to the council has led to the bidding window being extended following requests for more time to complete bids.

Tours of the buildings will continue in the coming weeks for developers to finalise their plans.

The tender process is being overseen by the council in partnership with commercial property agents Lambert Smith Hampton and the Canal & River Trust.

Cllr David Molyneux, (pictured) Wigan Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, said: “We are very pleased with the response so far from developers in the iconic Wigan Pier buildings.

“There is no better address in the country for a business than Wigan Pier - it is world famous.

“We have had some fantastic and innovative ideas put forward by serious developers who all have experience in regenerating buildings of this kind both regionally and nationally. During the process interested parties have expressed a desire to our agents and the council for more time to finalise their bids.

Simon Turner, (pictured) director at Lambert Smith Hampton, said: “ We are delighted with the response so far and feel the extension of the deadline will help all interested parties deliver some really high quality bids.

Wigan Pier was a coal loading jetty where wagons would unload coal on to canal barges and became famous through music hall jokes and author George Orwell. The bidding process now closes on Friday, July 28. For further information contact Lambert Smith Hampton on 0161 228 6411.

59

Obi’s dream comes true A former asylum seeker who fled war in his African homeland to create a new life in Wigan has opened up a business in the town centre.

Obi Oderinde, aged 23, fled Nigeria with his family and became an asylum seeker in Manchester aged just 10.

From there Obi and his family were moved to Wigan where they put down roots and established a new life.

Obi is now a proud owner of a new Afro-Caribbean restaurant and bar called D’Empire based in Wallgate and he is passionate about making it a success.

“I have been brought up believing that to be

successful you have to work hard. Things don’t come easy in life.

“Wigan has been amazing. Great people who have helped my family through hard times and now I’m happy.”

At Wigan and Leigh College he studied IT, public services and business management and from there he worked in a recruitment agency during the day and as a security guard by night. He has spent 20 hours a day helping to refurbish his new restaurant and is now welcoming customers through its doors.

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60

Business View

Accountancy &

Tax Update S

ignificant changes to the tax and selfassessment systems have already been announced and these impact on how individuals, landlords and small businesses declare their income in the future.

Making Tax Digital The major change focuses on the government’s drive towards MTD, though due to recent announcements some aspects will be delayed until 2019. It is a good time for business owners to prepare for the changes by moving to a cloud based accountancy package or using an App to record your business mileage accurately.

Auto Enrolment – Company Pension Schemes

by Chris Alcock - CMA Accountancy gross turnover, and at least £250 per quarter, on ‘relevant goods’. If you don’t, you must use a flatrate percentage of 16.5% for that quarter.

If you are unlikely to meet the 2% threshold, you may want to stop using the FRS and revert to normal VAT accounting. You can opt out of the FRS from the beginning of your VAT quarter with retrospective effect.

If you want to cease to be VAT registered, but carry on trading, you must tell HMRC in advance of the date you want to cancel your registration. This can’t be backdated. Once deregistered, you won’t be able to reclaim VAT on purchases and you must not charge VAT on your sales.

The phasing in of pensions auto-enrolment has almost concluded. All employers that had staff when the scheme was launched in 2012 should already have assessed their workers for eligibility.

For employers that took on workers for the first time on or after 1 April 2012, there’s still a period

In our view, today’s businesses will only succeed in the future if they adapt modern technology. Initiatives such as Making Tax Digital, Auto Enrolment and VAT Reporting all depend on modern technology.

of phased start dates for auto-enrolment before the end of 2017.

speak to us about these changes. Drop by the office on Skull House Lane in Appley Bridge and we can discuss these further over a coffee. Of course, there will be no charge for the initial meeting.

From 1 October 2017, auto-enrolment will begin on the day your new employee starts work for you and you should start preparing as soon as you know you’ll be taking on an employee, as it can take a few weeks planning to set up an auto-enrolment scheme.

VAT Flat Rate Scheme – Major changes from 01 April 2017 If you use the VAT flat-rate scheme (FRS), you need to work out whether you spend at least 2% of your

We offer a free consultation for any sole trader business, landlord or company that would like to

Contact Details: 01257 255521 info@cma-accountancy.com www.cma-accountancy.com 39 Skull House Lane, Appley Bridge, WN6 9DR

61 Pa yro ll

Accoun

ts

AE ware Soft

Do you need help and guidance with;

SA

Company Accounts?

Auto Enrolment?

Self Assessment?

Cloud-based Software?

Payroll Services?

Call CMA Accountancy today www.cma-accountancy.com info@cma-accountancy.com Skull House Lane, Appley Bridge. 01257 255521

62

Upload your event for FREE at www.locallife247.co.uk/events Follow us on Facebook

events2go

Willy Russell: Another Aspect

The RHS Flower Show

Tuesday, May 9 – Saturday, Sept 2, 9am – 5pm

Wed July 19 – Sun July 23, 10am – 6.30pm

Following his successful exhibition in Kirkby Gallery in 2015, Willy Russell is returning this time to show an entirely new side to his creative portfolio.

Returning to the magnificent deer parkland of Tatton Park, the 2017 RHS Flower Show offers an exciting mix of gardening inspiration, spectacular summer floral displays, delicious artisan food from specialist producers and superb live entertainment.

The Kirkby Centre, Norwich Way, Kirkby, Knowsley, L32 8XY. Contact: tina.ball@knowsley.gov.uk

Grand Opening Sunday, July 16, 10am – 2pm Come and join the celebrations of the long awaited opening of the new Cafe, Farm Shop and community hub at Greenslate Farm! The day is a celebration of all the wonderful volunteers and local community members who have each played their own part in building an amazing community resource for all to use. With the offer of food, drink and entertainment, there will also be their monthly Vintage Farmers Market so you can buy the freshest produce direct from the producers.

Greenslate Community Farm, Greenslate Road Wigan, WN5 7BG. Contact: 01695 221950.

Silent Film Showcase

Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6QN. Contact: www.rhs.org.uk/tatton

As You Like It Friday, July 21, 6pm – 9pm Join the Handlebards all-female troupe in the beautiful grounds of Haigh Hall Country Park for a bicycle- powered production of a Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It’ like no other. In usual Handlebards style, expect riotous amounts of energy, a fair old whack of chaos, and a great deal of laughter.

Haigh Hall Country Park, School Lane, Haigh, WN2 1PE. Contact: handlebards.com/tickets

Tennis Club Open Weekend Fri, July 21, 7.30pm & Sun, July 23, 1pm – 4pm

Classic, handpicked, silent films accompanied by the bespoke efforts of local musicians to provide a fresh angle or fitting score. These timeless films provide romantic nostalgia! An enjoyable evening for all. Make sure you reserve your free place now!

Winstanley Tennis Club is hosting a weekend of Wimbledon themed events, with Friday providing a Summer cocktail evening at the clubhouse which includes refreshments and music. Tickets are £5.

On Sunday, there is an open day and families are invited to join in an afternoon of free tennis and strawberries and cream.

The Old Courts, Crawford Street, Wigan, WN1 1NA. Contact: 01942 410499

Winstanley Tennis Club, Hall Lane, Orrell, Wigan WN5 7XN. Contact: billdow@hotmail.com

Sunday, July 16, 7.30pm

63

Community Festival

Star Night

Saturday, July 22, 10am – 10pm

Saturday, July 29, 7pm

This is a family fun day to raise funds for the U14s & U15s Orrell St James Rugby league teams. The day will be packed with fun events inc. bouncy castles, bar facilities, face painting, craft stalls, barbecue.

All this fun will coincide with a rugby league 9s competition involving local teams.

Orrell St. James welcomes you for a night of entertainment. With the likes of John Martin, Andie Dee and Magician Johnathan, it ensures to be a fantastic night. Tickets are £5 and all proceeds go to Derian House Children’s Hospice.

Orrell St. James ARLFC, Bankes Avenue, Orrell, Wigan, WN5 8HU

Classic Cinema Club Friday, July 28 and Friday, August 25, 12.30pm Join in the fun and watch classic films on the last Friday of every month. Everyone is welcome to come along, bring your own cinema goodies and watch the film.

Turnpike Gallery, Leigh Library, Civic Square, Leigh WN7 1EB. Contact: 01942 615883

Manchester Jazz Festival Friday, July 28 – Sunday, August 6 Manchester Jazz Festival is celebrated for its diverse and inviting mix of musical cultures and its adventurous approach to creative music-making.

With events across Manchester this week of music is not to be missed.

Find out more at: manchesterjazz.com

More Than Words Summer Fair Saturday, July 29, 11am – 3pm More Than Words is a community interest company based in Wigan who give young adults the chance to express themselves and build confidence through the arts. There are lots of family friendly activities, stalls and even a barbeque.

More Than Words Advocacy CIC, Pottery Terrace, Off Pottery Road, Wigan, WN3 5DN. Contact: louisemarsh.mtw@gmail.com

St James Social Club, St James Road, Orrell, WN5 7AA. Contact: 01695 721038

Summer Charity Ball Saturday, July 29, 6pm – 11pm Tickets are on sale for the Hands Up for Help Pink Strawberries and Cream Summer ball. Tickets are £24.50 each or £200 for a table of 10. There will be lots of musical acts, a three course meal, a live auction and more. All proceeds are going to four local charities: Brick project, Cosmos foundation, Addaction and Wigan Youth Zone.

Golborne Parkside Sports and Social Club, Rivington Avenue, Golborne, WA3 3HG. Contact: facebook.com/handsupforhelp

Table Tennis Taster Saturday, July 29 – Sunday July 30 Wigan Table Tennis Club will hold their annual table tennis event inside the Grand Arcade. Meet the coaches and learn how you can join the family based table tennis club. There will be many fun activities even competing against a robot!

Grand Arcade Shopping Centre, 23 Crompton Street, Wigan, WN1 1BH. Contact: wiganttc.co.uk

DMES Open Day Sunday, July 30, from 10am Wigan & District Model Engineering Society open day featuring miniature engines from across the country. Free event but donations welcome.

Haigh Hall Country Park, Wigan WN2 1PE. Visit www.wigandmes.co.uk

64

Welly Walk

Crafty Vintage

Thursday, August 3, 10am – 11.30am

Saturday, August 12 – Sunday, August 13

Wiggle with the worms as you search the sea edge for jiggly jelly fish and their friends. Wellies or Jellies essential for full exploration! Ideal for 4 to 8 year olds. Tickets £3.00 per child, normal admission charges apply.

Classic vintage, collectibles, retro wares, quirky handmade, fine foods and delectable cuisine. A pop up cocktail bar, live music, entertainers, a magnificent magician, face painting and lots of merriment ensures a wonderful weekend with something for all the family to enjoy.

National Trust Formby, Victoria Road, Formby, Merseyside L37 1LJ. Contact: 01704 874949

Garden Party Saturday, August 5, Noon – 4pm Held in the Hospice Grounds, this is an annual favourite of both old and young supporters. Enjoy an afternoon of craft stalls, raffles, games and a barbecue. Come down and enjoy the carnival atmosphere. Admission is free.

Wigan and Leigh Hospice, Kildare Street, Hindley, Wigan, WN2 3HZ. Contact: 01942 525566

Pride and Prejudice Sunday, August 6, 7pm – 9.30pm Brought to life by award winning writer Laura Tuner, this brand-new adaptation celebrates the 200th Anniversary of Jane Austen’s death, and promises to be the most splendid evening of the summer.

Hoghton Tower, Hoghton, Lancashire PR5 0SH. Contact: 01254 852 986

Forgotten Regulars Wednesday, August, 9, 12.30pm – 2.30pm

Hoghton Tower, Hoghton, Preston, Lancashire PR5 0SH. Contact: craftyvintage.com/book-now

Wigan Pride Saturday, August 12 Wigan Pride is back for 2017. This year we are going gold to celebrate 50 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK. Believe Square, The Wiend, Wigan WN1 1PF. Contact: wiganpride.com

Leigh Community 10k Sun, Aug 13, 8am (runners) 9.30am (spectators) The first ever Leigh Community 10k has been launched with people from across the region encouraged to lace up their running shoes all in the name of Wigan and Leigh Hospice. The race will take a path around Leigh town centre and will be three laps of this course to complete the run.

Leigh Town Hall, Market St, Leigh WN7 1DY. Contact: leigh10k.co.uk

Southport Flower Show

Come and join Tyldesley Dementia Friendly communities at the Union Arms pub. There will be pub games, music sing-alongs and good company for both people living with dementia and their carers. Food will be available, however places must be booked in advance.

Thursday, August 17 – Saturday, August 20

The Union Arms, 83 Castle St, Tyldesley, Manchester M29 8EW. Contact: 01942 870645

Southport Flower Show, Esplanade, Southport, PR8 1RX. Email: info@southportflowershow.co.uk

This year’s theme as: The Curious Garden. Inspired by a sense of mystery, wonder and curiosity – this year, you’re invited to something very strange indeed. Through a twist, a turn and a secret door, what surprises will you discover?

65

LEARN TO PLAY PIANO Study for music exams or just for enjoyment. No age limit!

DBS Checked

Call Louise McAleer GMus PGCE 01257 421056 or 07908 614664 louise.mcaleer29@yahoo.co.uk

FREE modern easy read Bible (New European Version)

Discover for yourself the real God, - without the religion or hassle.

Available now. You’re under no obligation and won’t get pestered!

Contact wiganchristadelphians.wordpress.com/bible-study/ or post to 66 Dicconson Street, Wigan, WN1 2AT

Café Coffee Mornings

Wind in the Willows

Friday, August 18, 10am – Noon

Sunday, August 20, 3pm – 5pm

Held on the third Friday of every month the Dementia Café Coffee Mornings will have various activities available each morning. Activities include professional speakers, entertainers, quizzes, bingo, hobby sessions and not to mention the tea/coffee and home-made cake.

Join Badger, Ratty, Mole and Toad for a perfect summer of adventure. Alive with music and song, this magical family show is presented in beautiful traditional costume and features a woodland parade during the interval for everyone to join in with!

Atherton Library, York Street, Atherton, M46 9JH. Contact: wigan.gov.uk/dementia

Wigan Live Festival

Botany Bay, Canal Mill, Botany Brow, Lancashire PR6 9AF. Contact: 01254 852 986

Vintage at Manchester Cathedral Friday, Aug 25 – Saturday, Aug 26, 10am – 8pm

Friday, August 18 – Sunday, August 20,

The biggest shopping and gin drinking opportunity

Wigan Live is a free festival hosted from many of the venues in Wigan Town Centre, helping us build a better community! Think of it as a musical pub crawl and you’ll be on the right track!

of the year as Manchester Cathedral is packed to the pews with top quality retro clothing and The Gin Society sets up its bar and serves up its special prosecco cocktails while you shop. Friday’s event runs from 10am-8pm, which Saturday’s shopping ends at 4.30pm. Entry is free.

Various Venues throughout Wigan Town Centre.

Contact: wiganlivefestival.co.uk

An Americana Music Festival Sat, Aug 19 & Sunday, Aug 20, Noon – Midnight The festival really showcases the quality of acts in the UK at the moment, whilst creating an opportunity for all the family to have a weekend out. Listen to great music, eat great food and drink, and enjoy some themed stalls and a child’s fun fair.

The Park Hotel, 625 Wigan Rd, Ashton-inMakerfield, Wigan WN4 0BY. Contact: seetickets. com/event/an-americana-music-festival

Manchester Cathedral, Manchester, M3 1SX.

Victoria

Street,

Charity Fashion Show Monday, September 25, 2pm (2.30pm start) A fun packed afternoon of fashion and Beauty. All proceeds will go to Willowbrook Hospice and Multiple Sclerosis. Tickets are £10 and available from Ella Mora Rainford, Beauty by Helen French in Eccleston and Willowbrook Hospice. Bubbles on arrival.

Houghwood Golf Club, Billinge Hill, Crank Road, Billinge, WA11 8R. Call Marion on 01744 885322

66

Win tickets to Southport

flower show!

W

ith its fabulous floral displays, celebrity gardeners and top family entertainment, there are always so many reasons to visit the Southport Flower Show.

And this summer, lucky readers of Local Life could also be strolling into the annual event completely free of charge. We have THREE pairs of tickets to give away to the show, which has been held at the same seaside venue in Southport for over 80 years.

More than 50,000 people visited the event last year and Southport is the biggest independent flower show in the UK, attracting amateur growers and gardeners from around the country. This year’s Southport Flower Show runs from Thursday 17th to Sunday 20th August.

Many of Britain’s best-known gardening experts from TV and radio are on hand to offer guidance, tips and advice at the show. This year’s line-up of garden stars includes Christine Walkden, Carol Klein, David Domoney, Matthew Wilson and Professor Stefan Buczacki.

67

In the Grand Floral Marquee, there are more than a million blooms on display and there are a series of amateur growers’ competitions throughout the show, but the event is far more than just a gathering for gardeners with a packed programme of entertainment to delight visitors of all ages.

Kids go free (with an accompanying adult) at the Southport Flower Show, and this year they will be treated to performances by children’s TV favourites Justin Fletcher and Mr Bloom. Justin Fletcher stars on CBeebies as Mr Tumble in Something Special and also features as himself in Justin’s House. He will headline the family show on Saturday 19th August. Mr Bloom is played by performer Ben Faulks in the CBeebies show Mr Bloom’s Nursery and returns to Southport on Sunday 20th August after entertaining audiences at last year’s show.

Another popular attraction at Southport is the food village which features top chefs showing their skills in the demonstration kitchen.

And for older visitors interested in home improvements, TV presenter and professional ‘upcycler’ Max McMurdo will share his unique design expertise. Max starred in ‘How to Live Mortgage Free with Sarah Beeney’ on Channel 4, and will park up in his mobile workshop inside a converted double decker bus to show guests how they can turn household junk into quirky home treasures.

The Southport Flower Show takes place at the 36acre Victoria Park, which is right beside the coastline sand dunes and a short walk away from Southport town centre.

The theme for this year’s show is the ‘Curious Garden’ with organisers aiming to showcase the sense of wonder and discovery that inspires all gardeners as they unravel the mysteries of the natural world.

General Manager Ray Roukin said: “We are delighted to welcome all our famous guests to this year’s Southport Flower Show and we know our visitors will be thrilled to see them.

“Families have always enjoyed coming to the Southport Flower Show and this year our line-up of children’s entertainment will be better than ever.”

To win a pair of tickets to Southport Flower Show, just visit our website www.locallife247.co.uk, click on the ‘Free Stuff’ tab and then click on ‘Competitions’.

Online readers can click on the following link http:// locallife247.co.uk/free-stuff/competitions/.

Just answer this question; What is the theme for this year’s Southport Flower Show?

Your answer must be with us by 12 noon on Friday 11th August 2017, and winners will be notified that same afternoon. Details of the competition winners will be publicised in our October magazine.

For tickets to the show please go to www.southportflowershow.co.uk

68

Food & Drink

Chef out of

A

water

By Ella Walker

pparently, Nathan Outlaw still can’t quite master the art of roasting a chicken.

This is a man who has a two Michelin star restaurant, was mentored by Rick Stein and has written four cookery books. And he can’t roast a chicken?!

“It always turns out differently every time,” says the Kent-born, Cornwall-based chef, with a laid-back, self-deprecating laugh. Don’t be taken in; Outlaw can handle chicken, he just doesn’t do carbon copy, identikit chickens - but when you’re best known for your seafood, who cares?

His latest book then, Home Kitchen, is something of a detour. “I wanted to write a book that covered all the bases if you had no other cookery book - a book that had all the recipes you needed for life.”

It features some fish, of course, but is also packed with nostalgic classics like toad-in-the-hole, soups, risottos, how to do a proper Sunday roast (yes, chicken included), plus desserts - including his daughter’s sticky toffee pudding - which is to be expected when Outlaw’s last-night-on-earth meal is, without question, trifle.

Throughout the writing process, he had his children (Jacob and Jessica) in mind, imagining the kind of cookbook they’ll need when, eventually, they go off to university or college. “If they took this one book,” he says, “there’d be enough in there for them to survive.” It’s a tasty safety net too, considering that cooking is no longer taught comprehensively in schools.

Outlaw, 39, explains he’s “fortunate enough to be old enough to have done cookery lessons at school”, but says it’s disappointing how children tend to get just a term of Food Technology classes each year now, and are rarely taught basic kitchen skills in detail.

Nathan Outlaw’s Home Kitchen by Nathan Outlaw, photography by David Loftus, is published in hardback by Quadrille, priced £20. Available now

69 “It’s not really like it was,” he muses. “We all have to eat to survive, so you need to eat well, it’s a nobrainer really, but it seems to be something that’s a little bit lost in schools now.”

After honing his filleting skills alongside Gary Rhodes and Stein, at just 25 - an age that doesn’t seem quite so young when you consider he was cooking for paying customers at 14 - Outlaw launched his first restaurant, The Black Pig. Within a year, he was also a first-time dad (to son Jacob) and the recipient of a Michelin star.

According to online food publisher Great British Chefs’ recent survey of 5,000 foodies, people are becoming increasingly adventurous when it comes to the foods and ingredients they’re willing to try.

Outlaw says he can definitely see that culinary confidence reflected in his restaurants.

“People are far more educated about food, they seem to want to know more about what’s on the

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plate,” he explains. “When I started cooking, you had your usual meat and fish, but now people would know what gurnard was, for example, they’re quite happy eating mackerel next to something like turbot or cod. People are much more open.”

However, while people are more experimental ordering off a menu, “there’s a lot more work to be done at home”.

“The more education people get and the more they see different things being cooked, we’ll start to see people eating other species of fish.”

Not that he minds people scoffing the usual battered cod and chips though, and he happily admits: “I love fish fingers!”

Keen to dive in and cook some fish? Try one of these Outlaw recipes at home (Recipes courtesy of Great British Chefs. For more inspiration, visit www. greatbritishchefs.com)...

Elvis Tribute Night

7.30pm, Saturday, 23rd September

Starring Kirk Kreole, plus local DJ Allan 11 Course Banquet Meal

STARTERS: Pappadum * Pickle Tray * Shish Kebab Hoppers * Special Pakora * Chicken Mushia MAIN COURSE: South Indian Murghi Balti * Lamb Monsoor Fish & Aloo Chef’s Curry * Rice * Naan Vege/alternative dishes also available, please ask for details.

Tickets Only £25 (£22 when paying in full when booking or £10 deposit on £25 tickets) Group booking available, 4 people minimum

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Baked Pollock with a Cheddar & Herb Crust

Serves 4 Ingredients 4 pollock fillets 75g of white breadcrumbs 1 garlic clove 4tbsp of parsley 1tbsp of dill

Method Preheat the oven to 220C/gas mark 7. Season the pollock with salt and pepper on both sides and lay skin-side down on a well-oiled baking tray.

Put the breadcrumbs, cheese, parsley, dill and garlic into a bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add the melted butter and mix well with a fork. Divide the mixture between the fillets and press on top of each piece in a thick, even layer.

50g of cheddar, finely grated

Drizzle over a little olive oil and bake for 10-12 minutes (eight minutes per inch of fish thickness) or until the crust is crisp and lightly golden, and the fish is cooked through.

Olive oil

Lift onto warm plates and serve.

Salt and pepper 25g of butter, melted

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72

Mackerel, Tomato & Samphire Salad

Method Serves 2 Ingredients 2 mackerel fillets, gutted, filleted, pin-bones removed 4 slices of smoked streaky bacon, large dice 8 cherry tomatoes, halved 2 little gem lettuces, leaves separated 110g samphire 10 basil leaves, torn Salt Olive oil For the tomato stock: 8 vine tomatoes, ripe and roughly chopped 2tbsp of white wine vinegar 2 garlic cloves, chopped 1 tbsp of sugar 1 red chilli, de-seeded and chopped Salt For the mayonnaise: 3 free-range egg yolks 1tsp English mustard 1tsp white wine vinegar 300ml of light olive oil 50ml of double cream

For the tomato stock, place the tomatoes, vinegar, garlic, sugar and chilli into a bowl. Season with salt and stir until mixed. Spoon the tomatoes into a large piece of muslin cloth and hang over a bowl in the fridge for at least six hours or overnight. Reserve the liquid collected from the tomatoes.

For the mayonnaise, mix the egg yolks, mustard and vinegar together in a bowl until well combined. Slowly add in the olive oil until the mixture thickens and then whisk in the cream. Add 150ml of the reserved tomato stock to the bowl.

Pour the contents of the bowl into a saucepan over a low heat, whisk continuously until heated through. Allow to gently simmer.

Meanwhile, place a frying pan over a medium-high heat and add a dash of oil. Once the pan is scorching hot, add the bacon and fry until crisp, remove from pan. Add the mackerel fillets, skin-side down, add the bacon back to pan and cook for one minute.

Add the cherry tomatoes, drizzle with a little oil and a sprinkle with salt, cook for a further three to four minutes. Remove the mackerel and tomatoes from the pan and set aside.

Add the lettuce and samphire to the same pan and cook for one minute.

To serve, ladle the warm mayonnaise into the middle of the plate, add the bacon, tomato, and lettuce mixture on top. Finish with the mackerel and small drizzle of olive oil.

Sprinkle the torn basil leaves and serve.

73

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Jolly’s Valley A

little research beforehand can make even the most seemingly average walk very interesting. For this trek though, I had a local tour guide – my colleague Peter who prowls this parish on a regular basis.

Peter, who doubles as our fearless cameraman, was born in this part of Wigan and, as a boy, it was literally his playground. The mere fact he is still around 50-odd years on to tell the tale is miraculous given some of his escapades in the local highways and byways.

We parked up at Red Rock car park on Red Rock Lane. Apparently, this used to be the railway yard of the old Red Rock Station. Leaving the car park, we headed back to the main road, turned right

by David Sudworth

and headed down Red Rock Brow. On reaching the bottom of the hill, we crossed over to the other side of Chorley Road, going left towards Wigan.

After about 100 yards you come to a public footpath on your right. Follow this up through the trees, out across the meadow and over the foot bridge that spans the West Coast Main Line. It’s a busy old route and if you stick around for a few minutes, you’re bound to see at least one loco.

Once across the bridge, follow the road along the side of the railway until it reaches Fairhurst Lane. At this point turn right and head up the lane for about 20 yards, then take the path on your left which climbs up into a meadow, which was, up until 1959, Victoria Colliery.

75 Keeping to the left, follow the path round until it splits, taking the path that leads off through the trees and out onto Lordy Close. Form here go left and follow the road out onto Water Drive, which you continue along to Chorley Road. Go right along Chorley Road until you reach the roundabout at Boars Head, where you cross Wigan Road (A49).

Having crossed Wigan Road (A49), you go right for about 100 yards, at which point you turn left into Gidlow Cemetery. As we ambled through, we passed the final resting place of renowned artist Lawrence Isherwood.

A friend of L.S. Lowry, Isherwood was one of those artists whose stock has risen immeasurably since his death from cancer in 1989. Collectors of his works include Prince Charles.

We followed the road through to the other end of the cemetery, then turned left, eventually leaving the cemetery through a small gateway. Here you go left and follow the path round to the bridge which brings you to Walter Scott Avenue.

Quite why the road is named after the Scottish novelist, playwright and poet is a bit of a mystery. As

far as one can tell, he had no direct links to Wigan. If you happen to know, do drop us a line.

Go left up the road to its junction with Wigan Lane, where you cross over the main road and go right.

After about 150 yards you’ll come to a pathway on your left named Sicklefield. Take this path and follow it down past Sicklefield House, down the

76

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77

64 steps, then left across the footbridge over the River Douglas and out onto Wingates Road. Here you go left and follow the road, which leads into Pendlebury Lane.

Heading up the lane you pass under the viaduct that once carried the L&NWR, Lancashire Union line, Standish Loop. Continuing up the lane, you pass open fields before reaching the LeedsLiverpool Canal. Here you take the path on the left, down onto the canal towpath. On the opposite bank you’ll see a lovely little garden with massive Gunnera plants on either side of it. Continue along the towpath taking in to views until you reach the bridge at Red Rock.

Here you cross over the road and head down the hill and back to the car park.

A lovely little walk in a part of Wigan which really only the locals know. Most people who visit the

town tend to retrace George Orwell’s footsteps. So for a change, why not follow Jack’s paw prints on this four and a half mile stroll?

Please ensure you wear appropriate clothing and footwear while walking. While 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.

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78

Test Drive

3008

Peugeot SUV 1.2 GT Line

I

t is not unusual to see some big changes between an older and newer generation of the same model, but the all-new Peugeot 3008 SUV looks radically different to the outgoing one.

That exiting generation, introduced in 2008, was a frumpy, chubby SUV that did little to inspire buyers. The all-new Peugeot 3008 SUV, though, is a different animal, burying the clumsy image of the last car six-feet under and achieving the European Car of the Year crown.

Sometimes it can be difficult to separate SUVs out on the road because most of them drive alike. Many are set up for comfort, and that’s what the all-new 3008 is tuned for. The small steering wheel and light handling gives a feeling of sprightliness, even if that’s not the case, as it’s a tall, heavy car. However; that’s not a complaint, the designers and engineers have done a good job covering the traditional flaws of an SUV’s dynamics.

by Tim Barnes-Clay

There’s a wholesome medley of engines on offer, as with most Peugeot models: two petrol’s in the shape of a 131PS 1.2-litre unit and a 165PS 1.6-litre turbo.

Then there are a couple of turbo diesel engines of 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre capacity. What suits you best is largely going to depend on what sort of driving you do. Short urban trips suit the 1.2-litre petrol more, whereas longer journeys will fit the potential 70mpg obtainable from the 1.6-litre diesel.

I drove the 1.2 petrol in GT Line spec with 131PS, fitted with a manual gearbox. Behind the wheel, things feel dynamic, and the weighting of the steering is spot on. The car grips bitumen like a cat’s claws cling to flesh, and mid-range pulling power is good, so you can pick up the pace easily. The six-speed transmission is slick shifting, and the car delivers a hushed ride. Tyre roar and wind whistle is kept out of the cabin, too. All this just adds to the 3008’s sense of refinement.

79 the 3008 SUV. The 1.2 GT Line’s average fuel consumption of 55.4mpg and 117g/km of CO2 means low running costs, combined with effective performance. 0-62mph is achieved in 10.8 seconds and the Pug’s maximum speed is 117mph.

The Peugeot offers a composed ride with seats that provide the sort of comfort and support required for long distance motoring. Furthermore, the car’s suspension sops up potholes without complaining.

Significantly, the all-new 3008 doesn’t tip into bends. Indeed, body roll is very well contained. This surprised me, as smaller SUVs aren’t always the type of vehicle to stay so unflustered on twisty tarmac.

The new 3008 comes in four levels of trim: Active, Allure, GT Line and GT. Factory fitted safety kit includes automatic emergency braking and rear parking sensors. The GT Line hasn’t got any extra safety equipment - just sportier looks. But it has all the safety kit you really need, and as with all 3008s, it has a top five-star Euro NCAP safety score.

A car can look great and have all the equipment in the world crammed into it – but it’s no good if it isn’t economical and it doesn’t drive decently.

There are no concerns to be had in this area with

Fast Facts • 0-62 mph: 10.8 secs • Combined mpg: 55.4

The all-new Peugeot 3008 SUV’s entry price is £21,795, but expect to fork out £25,655 for the petrol-powered GT Line I drove. A basic Nissan Qashqai costs £18,545, and the new SEAT Ateca is priced from £17,990. But I think the 3008’s extra cost is justified because it feels more upmarket inside than these two rivals. Cabin materials include brushed chrome, large areas of carbon decoration and textiles. They even cover some areas less commonly found in SUVs, such as the dashboard inlay. It’s all very contemporary and attractive. The Peugeot is just as stylish outside, and it drives well, while delivering a comfortable ride for all.

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Well worth

R

it!

by Angie Barker Award Winner

egular readers of my column will know that I open my garden each year under the National Garden Scheme to raise money for charity.

Held on 25th June, here is a summary of the day’s events: 5.00am – check weather forecast – not looking good 5.01am – sweep paths and patio (still in pjs & slippers) 5.30am – check weather forecast – still not looking good 8.30am – erect marquee at the gate, blow up balloons and fix bunting (now fully dressed) 8.31am – check weather forecast again and decide there is no point stressing about it 11.00am – the garden is officially open so I man the gate in anticipation of early visitors 11.01am – heavy rain!!

11.02am – vow NEVER to do this again 11.05am – first visitors arrive 11.30am – we realise we don’t have enough milk and plastic teaspoons so hubby nips to Tesco’s The day flies past, we have 125 people through the gate and make £600 for the NGS charities. Everyone is lovely and very complimentary about the garden, and my helpers on the gate and in the kitchen are kept busy and do a wonderful job.

Angie is a qualified award-winning garden designer who will plan your garden to your needs from start to finish, supplying reputable contractors and the ideal plants.

4.10pm – last visitors leave 4.11pm – a glass of champagne is thrust into my hand and I get to sit down and chat about the days events with hubby.

I would like to thank all the people who braved the weather to come and see the garden. I must also thank my fabulous helpers, without them the open day would not be possible. Left to right in the photo - my daughter Heather, (to be fair she didn’t do a lot but she did bring some glamour to the occasion), my lovely son in law Ryan, my fabulous sister Jilly, my brilliant brother in law Jim, my good friend Ann (she is taking the photo) and last (but never least) hubby.

I’d be lost without him.

Opening your garden is a bit like having a baby – you forget all the pain and stress and just remember all the enjoyable bits. So yes – I probably will be doing it all again next year!

Call Angie now for your free consultation!

Angie Barker Dip GD (Inst GD) BA (Hons) Garden Design For All Seasons Tel: 01942 522 405 Mob: 07857 008 383 www.angiebarker.co.uk

Award Winner

82

Garden Services

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Boiler & Central Heating Experts

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• Bathroom Installation, Full Bathrooms & En-Suites • Plumbing Services • Wall & Floor Tiling • Ceiling Panelling

A Genuine Family Run Business With Friendly & Courteous Staff

01942 397173 / 07803 057940

SPECIALISTS IN CENTRAL HEATING INSTALLATION, BOILER REPLACEMENTS AND UPGRADES

Douglas Drive, Orrell, Wigan www.ljplumbingandbathrooms.co.uk

Plumbing & Heating Specialist Complete Bathroom & Tiling service

Accredited Installer & Ser vice Partner • Annual Boiler Servicing • Landlord & Home Owner Gas Safety Checks • Gas Fire & Cooker Installations • Under Floor Heating Specialists • Home Efficiency Control Upgrades

John Bailey - 01942 495785

or 07721 040620 & 07710 153238 Based in Kenyon Road, Wigan

10 YEARS

EXTENDED

Elite Bathrooms

WARRANTY ON SELECTED BOILER INSTALLATIONS

Installation & Tiling • Bathrooms • Wall Tiling • Floor Tiling FREE Estimates

WE REPAIR ALL MAKES OF BOILERS!

Telephone:

01257 421 660 Registration No.

88604

TEL: MOB:

07703 448890 01942 208926

01942 504 429 07515 505 501

www.fgwelch.co.uk

Puzzle Solutions

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SENEX DESBARRES BOWEN

1713 1767 1749

EASTERN EUROPE RUSSIA SCOTLAND

£1900 £175 £300

WIGGLE WORDS: MAKE A PIGS EAR OF IT

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Great Value Bathrooms!

Full Bathrooms & En-Suites Showers, Trays & Cubicles Relocation of Bathroom Suites 25 years bathroom experience Call Chris now for a free quotation

C L Bathrooms

01942 749085 or 07801 295483 www.clbathrooms.co.uk

Our Readers Your Customers Promote your business to 75,000 potential customers with this size advertisement from just

ÂŁ39 + VAT

(Includes free artwork service).

Ideal for cleaning services, chimney sweeps, builders, plumbers, central heating technicians, electricians, painters and other home services

LocalLife

01695 627999 or email sallyb@locallife247.co.uk

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PP

Building services Joinery Specialists

LOCAL, RELIABLE, FRIENDLY PROFESSIONAL AND HONEST • Conservatories & Orangeries • Extensions • Refurbishments & Alterations • Fencing & Decking

• Garage & Loft Conversions • Kitchens & Fitted Bedrooms • Doors & Windows • All aspects of joinery work

Call Phil - 01257 425997 or 07703 007675

Don’t Move – Improve!

ix

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Easy Mix

Eas

I’m Stuart Collier, a local builder with over 25 years experience in house renovation and specialist in loft & garage conversion.

• Delivered or Collected • Perfect for builders & DIY

I can design and create the extra living space you need.

Lamberhead Ind. Est., Pemberton

Ready Mixed Concrete

01942 224571 for advice Micro/Mini diggers Tracked hi-Tip dumper

WiTh or WiThouT driver doMestic or coMMercial work

01257 251 534 07973 143 289 www.sjcollier.co.uk

• Conservatory repairs • Locks, handles and hinges • Replacement glass • Windows and doors installed • Replacement conservatory roofs Call MARK now on 01942 737 381 / 0776 315 1720 conservatoryrepairs@gmail.com www.fixmyconservatory.com

01257 781 003 07967 539 919 glyn@downtoearthgroundworks.uk

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GDR Driveways

JJ Driveways

Flagging • Block paving Concreting • Fencing

Garage and entrance doors Call Gareth for a FREE qoutation in matching styles

01942 217 113 | 07715 177 754

Is your garage door broken ?

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

Call us today for a free estimate to Repair or Replace it

GARAGE DOOR

REPAIRS

All GARAGE DOORS REPAIRED : Springs, Cables, Locks, Rollers etc.

Doors of all ages repaired

CJM Garage Doors Ltd, Unit 10, Hewitt Business Park Winstanley Road, Orrell, Wigan WN5 7XB t: 01942 738347 w: www.cjmgaragedoors.co.uk

01744 894939 07891 330214 NO FIX, NO CHARGE! www.garagedoorandlock.co.uk Strawberry Cottage, Pimbo Road, Upholland WN8 9QL

Brickwork & Property Maintenance

M M

Ma rc Mulligan

• Brickwork, Extensions, Re-pointing • Garden Walls, Decorative Walls • Platform Steps, Paths & patios Disabled Adaptations & Access

01942 248 537 • Wall to Floor Rails, Floor to Floor 07749 806 566 Rails & Path Rails Fully Qualified - 28 Years Experience

Home Improvements • • • •

Fitted Kitchens & Bedrooms Garage & Loft Conversions Floors, Doors & Windows Garden Gates

For all your home improvement needs call David on...

01257 422317 or 07852 202867 www.mtjoiner y.co.uk

01942 203 804 DS Joinery 07851 225 876

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House Extensions New Kitchens & Bathrooms Garage Conversions Full Refurbishments All our work is fully insured & guaranteed References available on request Call now for a free quotation

• WILSON BROS • 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

01942 561 848 | 07725 909 257 www.freshbuildconstruction.co.uk

…for a more majestic way of living Call us today for expert advice and a free quotation

0800 085 3987 07917 735 686

FREEPHONE MOBILE

Extensions - from design to completion Orangeries & Conservatories Garage & Loft Conversions Driveways & Paving Garden Buildings Conservatory roof replacements Highly experienced ~ no job too small ~ Orrell based

www.majesticbuildingservices.co.uk

Ashurst Building & Roofing Services All types of building and roofing work undertaken including;

TELEPHONE: 01942 Extensions 832747 & Conservatories Mobile: 07747 725999 New roofs & Roof repairs Family run business with 25 years of experience

Call David today for a free quotation TELEPHONE: 01942 832747 Mobile: 07747 725999

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B.A. Berry Building & Roofing Specialists

First Class Workmanship • All types of re-roofs • Strip & re-slate or re-tile • Built up felt/flat roofs, dormers etc.

• Insurance work undertaken • Roofline uPVC fascias, soffits & guttering

W.Newman

•All building work undertaken.

• From a broken tile to a full re roof.

• Flat roofs renewed and repaired.

• Extensions, Alterations, Structural repairs including Lintels.

Your local fully qualified tradesman with

30 years experience

Call us now for a free, no obligation quote

01695 622 704 / 07968 652 320 www.baberry.co.uk

ROOFING & REPAIRS

01695 627 212 MOBILE: 07774 943 706

52 HALLBRIDGE GARDENS, UP HOLLAND Established Over 30 Years

K Stone Building Services

All types of building work undertaken 25 years experience

• Brickwork • Pointing • Garden Walls • Patios • Joinery • Flagging • Alterations • Plastering

01942 495412 / 07974 496676

All aspects of roofing & roofline New roofs Repairs Fascias, soffits & gutters

Dormers and Garages Rubber Cover Roofing Specialist Guaranteed 50 years

Call for free quote

Tel: Mob: 01942 864 624 / 07868 713520

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A View From The Lump Local gossip, gripes and goings-on What’s sup?

Swiggin’ in Wigan has taken a hit in recent years. Pubs have had a notoriously difficult time making ends meet, and some watering holes have sunk without trace.

But it seems that the need to sup is on the up in Standish. This month, there are no fewer than four planning applications relating to the area’s hostelries. They include proposals for a new bar at Standish Hall Farm’s brewery, an extension at Last Orders on High Street and a plan for a new off licence at the corner at Cross Street and High Street.

I know that living in Standish - with all that traffic and housebuilding - can be stressful at times, but I didn’t think it would turn so many to drink...

Peer show Lord Smith of Leigh used his first speech in the House of Lords since last November to ask: “Has austerity ended?” Our borough’s very own Pete the Peer, speaking on the fourth day of the Queen’s Speech Debate, had a right go at the Prime Minister’s £1bn deal with the DUP, as well as laying into the Government generally about what he perceives as their

lack of largesse to anyone but the party which is keeping them in government.

No such money worries back home in Library Street though, where the yearly allowances bill for councillors has just landed on the doormat with an almighty thud.

Apparently, during 2016/17, Wigan’s councillors cost the taxpayer over £1m. And who topped the allowances bill this year? Yes, it was our Pete with a none-too-shabby £54,805.72.

Has austerity ended? For Wigan’s councillors, some mighy say that, judging by these figures, it never even started!

Mangle wrangle Shevington High caretakers made an interesting find recently when they came across a number of old wooden lockers, some of which still held the pupils’ workbooks dating back to the early 1970s.

In one English text book, students were asked to write a story on ‘Washing Day’. But it got me remembering the time in our house when, once a week, mother would gather all the linen etc and spend most of the day toiling

over the dolly tub, followed by a good few hours wrestling with the mangle. No wonder there’s so much obesity around these days when all this can now be done at the touch of a button...

Taking the rise And finally, an amusing tale from Paul Riley, who is retiring from Wigan’s hospital cooking staff after 26 years. It’s a little known fact that Paul, during his three years as a member of the Household Division, was once sent to 10 Downing Street to cook for the then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.

Paul recalls “One day she asked for crumpets for breakfast but I had never baked them from scratch. I even called Warburtons at three in the morning trying to find a recipe; they must have thought I was mad.

“She wasn’t very keen on the crumpets I finally made, so when eventually I asked a colleague, who was laid up with a broken leg, what recipe he used, he just turned to me and said: ‘I don’t know, just send a car to Harrods every morning to pick some up like I do.’ She never suspected a thing.”

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Visit one of the largest showrooms 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

® Rockdoor Approved Installer Reg No 02767596

SISTER COMPANY OF FOXWELLS BUILDERS Established 16 years

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