Local Life - Wigan - September 2021 by Local Life 247 Ltd

LocalLife Wigan Edition

September 2021

6 of the best

Museums Pages 70-73

Past Forward - The Rewind Pages 37-40

Education Special Pages 23-27

A Guide to Wooden Floors Pages 28-29

Cash for Clutter Ideas Pages 46-47

Jack’s Tracks to Frodsham Pages 59-62

Hybrid SUV’s - What’s Available? Pages 74-77

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his summer has felt more like being out on parole rather than the promised get-out-of-jailfree status.

If you ‘staycationed’, you were rewarded with quintessentially British weather which remained reliably unreliable, whilst those who went overseas faced holiday planning tasks that turned out to be as difficult as nailing jelly to the wall. Whilst I was sheltering from the rain in Northumberland, I didn’t really appreciate Facebook reminding me where I was holidaying on that date in previous years! Let’s hope that September marks a big step forward in getting back to some sort of normality, especially for the travel and hospitality sectors. As you can see in this magazine, there’s lots going on this month. Remember, if you’re part of a local community group and you want free publicity for an event, then just send details involved to editorial@locallife247.co.uk. See you next time Chris Pearce, Publisher chrisp@locallife247.co.uk

Keep in touch with the LocalLife Team!

LocalLife

Telephone: 01695 627 999 info@locallife247.co.uk

locallifemagazine247 @locallifemedia Local Life 247 Ltd, PO Box 779, Wigan WN1 9UB Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher or its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or other cause. No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced without the prior written consent of Local Life 247 Ltd.

This month’s highlights 70. Six of the Best Museums

Contents 14. Beauty Tailor your beauty products.

26. Food Cooking with the kids.

31. Home A rug for every room.

32. Health Don’t suffer in silence.

20. Paprika Chicken

28. Wooden Floors Guide

46. Finance Cash for clutter.

63. Parenting Teaching kids to be savvy with money.

68. Puzzle Pages Try these brainteasers for size!

74. Motoring

59. Jack’s Tracks to Frodsham & Helsby

Hybrid SUV’s.

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

37. Past Forward

80. Garden Trends

Next Issue - October

Advertising deadline - 15th September Published - 29th September

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Bubble Festival

Big Gig

Fun for all the family is promised at a festival with a difference; the Haigh Bubble Festival, which takes place on Saturday 11th September. Hosted at Haigh Woodland Park in the Walled Gardens and Walker Gardens by Haigh Parish Council, the Festival runs from 11am to 4pm.

Upholland’s Big Gig is back this weekend. The Victoria pub, on Ormskirk Road in the village, will host the twoday festival on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th August. A total of 16 bands and artists will be performing over the two days including Kinky Oyster, Hyena, Crimson Image, Rivers of Rome, Richard Hart and The Figments.

Come as a family, watch the show and join in making your own bubbles. Experience the biggest bubbles you have ever seen from some of the finest bubble performers in England, and just maybe you’ll decide to unleash your inner child and run through and pop them. Or you can act your age and simply browse through the stalls instead. The stalls will include makers, bakers, vintage, craft and local community groups. This is a not-for-profit event with any money raised going toward the Haigh Parish Council’s nominated good causes. The suggested donation is £1 per person and you can pay the friendly bucket collectors at the entrance to the Walled Gardens. If you’d like a stall at the event then please email Haigh Parish Council at clerk.haighpc@gmail.com for full details.

The festival will be raising funds for Stable Lives, a Parboldbased charity that uses horses and ponies that have been exposed to mental and physical trauma, to help individuals or children struggling with low self-esteem, anxiety and depression. For more up to date details about Upholland’s Big Gig, visit the venue’s Facebook page @ thevictoriapub12.

Bargain Grab Don’t miss the Nearly New sale being held at the Bispham Methodist Church this Saturday (28th August). The sale runs from 10am-12 noon at the church on Crank Road in Billinge. You can grab a bargain or two on the day and indulge in a few refreshments too. Stalls include nearly new clothes, toys, books jewellery and lots more.

Chance to Dance Lovers of sequence dancing will be pleased to hear that two fortnightly tea dance events have re-opened. The tea dance at Our Lady’s Social Centre in Downall Green Road in Bryn, which has been running for over twenty years, re-started this month and the next date for this event is Bank Holiday Monday 30th August and every second Monday thereafter.

Tuesday

shevington Shevington Methodist Church, 1 Gathurst Road, WN6 8HA 9am, 3.30pm, 5.00pm & 6.30pm

Wednesday

Billinge Bispham Methodist Church Hall, Crank Rd, WN5 7DT 8.30am & 10.00am

Wednesday

Pemberton Lamberhead Green WM Club, White St (Behind White Swan) 3.30pm, 5.00pm & 6.30pm

For further details call Karen on 07789 227 871

The event is mostly sequence dancing with a bit of line dancing, it runs from 1-4pm, and the admittance cost of £2 includes tea and biscuits. The second tea dance takes place a short distance away at the Methodist Church Hall in Victoria Road in Garswood. This event, which offers strictly sequence dancing, resumed at the end of July and the next date for this event is Friday 27th August and every second Friday thereafter. Admittance to the tea dance, which runs from 1.30pm4pm is again £2 and that includes tea and biscuits. For more information, call Pat Chisnall on 01942 717883.

Volunteers Wanted The Wigan Diggers Festival Committee are looking for volunteers to help at this year’s festival. The Wigan Diggers Festival takes place from 11am to 9.30pm on Saturday 11th September in the Gerrard Winstanley Garden’s near the Wiend, and celebrates the life, ideas and influence of Wigan-born Gerrard Winstanley. Festival organisers need people to help build the festival site on the Friday and help to take it all down again on the Sunday. On the day of the festival, volunteers are needed for various jobs, including working behind the bar, help with stewarding the festival site, collecting rubbish throughout the day and helping behind the stage. Any help would be appreciated, and volunteers can get in touch with their full name and contact details by emailing wigandiggers@gmail.com

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Running 4louis A 58-year-old businesswoman is undertaking the Great North Run to raise funds for a charity that supports families grieving the loss of a child, stillbirth and miscarriage.

with a few weeks of fundraising still to go. The 4louis charity provides useful tools, equipment and training to hospital units, hospices and other professionals who have the job of comforting grieving families who suffer a miscarriage, stillbirth or child death.

Debbie Beardsmore, owner of Debbie’s Tan & Nail Salon on Ormskirk Road in Pemberton, was inspired to enter the Great North Run to raise funds for the 4Louis charity after the loss of her grand-daughter Scarlett Dawber, who was stillborn just before Christmas. Debbie explained how she and the rest of the family felt helpless to support her daughter Fran and husband Aaron through the traumatic later stages of Fran’s pregnancy and the period following Scarlett’s birth. “The twelve-week scan came back fine; it was only later that the bloodwork showed up some abnormalities and it was clear that Scarlett wasn’t going to survive”. Debbie was informed in June that she had a place in the September half-marathon and has spent every spare minute since then building her fitness levels. After initially setting a fundraising target of £250, Debbie’s Just Giving account now stands at an amazing £1,307

Debbie described how overwhelmed she has been with the response from her customers and other visitors to her salon. “I’ve felt humbled and honoured by the response, one lady brought in an album consisting of the keepsakes from her stillborn granddaughter and we’ve had lots of donations from customers”. Debbie’s other daughter Sarah, who runs The Sanctuary beauty salon, which is based within Debbie’s business, has organised a grand raffle for 4louis and is supporting her mum’s fitness drive by joining Ladybird Gym where her mum is preparing for the run. If you would like to make a contribution to Debbie’s and Sarah’s fundraising efforts for the 4louis charity, visit; https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ deborahbeardsmore

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Standish Show Wigan Rotary Club are hosting ‘A Night at The Theatre’, a musical show starring Victor Michael and the Two Sopranos (Lisa Davis and Hayley Bowen), at the Standish Unity Club on Saturday 9th October. Their show includes classics such as Nessun Dorma and Time to Say Goodbye, alongside songs from famous musicals such as Les Misérables and Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. One of the performing trio, Lisa Davis, won’t have far to travel on the night. Wiganer Lisa (pictured) told Local Life that she is “delighted to be singing in her hometown for all her family and friends”. Lisa studied Opera at Chetham’s

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School of Music in Manchester, before going on to perform in Sir Cameron Mackintosh’s ‘Hey Mr Producer’ amongst other shows. She’s spent much of singing career at sea, performing on cruise ships throughout the world. Tickets for the show are priced at £12 and can be booked via the Rotary Club’s website www.wiganrotary.co.uk

Anyone for Tennis? Get your rackets at the ready and head down to Winstanley Tennis Club on Hall Lane, off Winstanley Road in Orrell to take advantage of a wide range of memberships, with all ages and abilities welcome to join. The club has six newly refurbished courts, and they are free to hire for members. The club has private and group coaching sessions available, with regular mini social tournaments throughout the year. Kids can rally their way through a Friday evening at the family fun night. These sessions take place between 5-8pm and are free to club members. To take advantage of their reduced membership rates and coaching, please email winstanleytenniscontact@ gmail.com.

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Healthwatch Are you worried about how to access your GP? How easy is it to get an appointment? Has your interaction with primary care changed because of the pandemic? If you want to share your views on the above questions, then Healthwatch Wigan and Leigh want to hear from you. The purpose of Healthwatch Wigan and Leigh is to represent local people who use health and social care services and to make sure that those running services put people at the heart of care. They want to know the needs, experiences and concerns of people who use local health and social care services and to speak out on their behalf. All the information you provide will be heard confidentially and recorded anonymously to contribute to a report published later in the year. To contribute to that report you can either call Lisa Armstrong on 01942 834666 or text ‘GP’ to this number 07939 061 872 and someone will call you back. You can also email Lisa.Armstrong@healthwatchwiganandleigh. co.uk or you can complete a short survey online by 30/09/21 at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/HWWLGPAccess.

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e k o p Bes y t u a e B Seven ways to tailor your beauty products so they work for you

Get your glow back. Missing your summer tan? Add a few selftanning drops to your favourite body lotion and face moisturiser to build up a natural-looking tan over a few days. The more drops you add, the deeper the tan.

2. Become your own mixologist. Brands like The Inkey List and The Ordinary have made it easier to buy skincare ingredients without breaking the bank. You can buy everything from retinol to collagen and Q10. Do be careful what you add together though. Retinol should never be mixed with vitamin C, for example, as the pairing is likely to cause irritation. So, do your homework and then have fun!

Create your own tinted moisturiser. During the summer, I couldn’t find a decent tinted moisturiser with SPF, so I made my own. Even now it’s autumn, it’s still my daily face cream. Squeeze a little moisturiser into the palm of your hand. Add a dash of foundation and mix it together. I also add a few drops of hyaluronic acid to boost moisture. Play around with what works for you.

4. Boost your face mask. I’m a big fan of Perl Cosmetics’ British Pink Clay Mask & Illuminating Oil (£29.50 from perlcosmetics.com). Make a paste with the powdered clay and water, and then add a few drops of the oil to suit your skin type (up to ten drops for oily skin or twenty for dry skin). Unlike some clay masks I’ve tried, this one won’t dry your skin. Instead, it leaves it soft, glowing and healthy-looking.

5. Mix up your skincare routine. While brands design their products to work in harmony, that doesn’t mean you can’t pick and choose or mix things up depending on the season. For example, if your skin is dry, you might want to go for a cleaning balm, followed by a gentle toner and moisturiser – all from different brands. At the moment, I’m loving the Caring Face Toner by Studio Botanic (£35, www.

level7beautyhall.com). It’s rich in plant extracts and hyaluronic acid, very refreshing and really boosts hydration. When it’s time to put the central heating on, I’ll likely use it twice a day, rather than once, and follow with a serum.

6. Try DIY. It’s pretty easy to make your own body oil, bath salts, body scrub and other goodies. For a bath and body oil, you just need a carrier oil (like sweet almond, grapeseed or even just sunflower), along with a few drops of aromatherapy essential oil. Want to make things even easier? Check out Neal’s Yard Remedies’ Create Your Own range.

7. Or leave it to the professionals. More brands are realising that their customers want bespoke beauty products. For one, SkinCeuticals has launched Custom D.O.S.E – an in-store service where an expert blends a serum to address your own individual skin concerns. Visit www. skinceuticals.co.uk to find out more.

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Exhibition at ex-M&S Members of Ashton Art Group have a new home for this year’s exhibition, and it’s somewhere close to the heart of Wigan shoppers – the old Marks and Spencers store. The group usually hold their annual exhibition at St. Thomas’ Church Hall in Ashton, but the church is undergoing construction work, so the group is moving temporarily for 2021 to a huge space in the Grand Arcade in Wigan that was part of the former Marks and Spencer shop. From Saturday 2nd October until Saturday 9th October, the exhibition will be open each day between 10am and 4pm and entry, as usual, is free. Members of the group are looking forward to welcoming their friends and supporters from Ashton whilst hoping to attract new interest from Wigan and the surrounding area. Paintings in oil, acrylic and watercolour, drawing, mixed media and print will all be represented. Subjects include landscape and local views, portrait, still life, figure study

and animals and may be figurative or abstract. Don’t miss the chance to drop in to view the exhibition, chat with members about their work and find out more about joining in! Most of the work will be for sale, so it’s a good chance to pick up an early Christmas present for your family or friends. Ashton Art Group meets in the Childcare and Community Centre (formerly YMCA) in Hilton Street, Ashton in Makerfield on Tuesday evenings at 8pm. There is a varied programme of portrait, figure and life study, still life, outdoor sketching, demonstrations and workshops and some lively social occasions. New members are always welcome to join this friendly group and there is always somebody willing to help newer artists to develop their talents. For more details about the group, visit their website www. ashtonartgroup.co.uk or search for @AshtonArtGroup on Facebook.

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U3A Relaunch Upholland and District U3A is having a relaunch event between 10am-2pm Thursday 2nd September at St Teresa’s Hall, College Road, Upholland. If you’re no longer in full time work and you’d like to explore new interests, skills and ideas then come along for a coffee and find out more. Current members will be in attendance, along with group leaders, to discuss the many activities that you can get involved with. With thousands of local members, the U3A can give you a chance to stretch your mind and extend your social life while you take part in some enjoyable activities. For more details about the activities on offer, visit the website www.uphollandu3a.org.

Revival Course If you’re looking to revive a tired piece of furniture and don’t know where to begin then have a look at the Boho Shed’s one day workshop! Joanna will be running a workshop on Saturday September 18th from 10am to 3pm at The Boho Shed’s Workshop on Newton Road in Billinge. You can take your own small piece of furniture and transform it into a fresh, elegant and creative piece in a friendly and fun workshop using some beautiful ‘ReColour’ chalk paint and accessories. You will learn about different paint types and a variety of techniques including preparation, painting, crackling, waxing, dry brushing, stencilling and distressing. For prices and more information please contact Joanne on 07595 433259 or email hello@thebohoshed.co.uk

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The winners of the Local Life competition in our July and August issues have been confirmed as Megan Gallagher from Standish, Melvin Levick, also from Standish, Samantha Clinton from Highfield and Angela Fletcher from Billinge. The winners all received a pair of tickets for the recent Tom Jones concert at Haydock Park. Thank you to all those who entered.

Young Achiever Award Wigan Soroptimists are seeking a girl or young woman who is worthy of their Young Achiever award for 2021. Soroptimist International of Wigan is part of a worldwide organisation of women who work via projects, fundraising, and advocacy to advance the status of women and girls at national and international level. The Young Achiever award was launched in 2012 and anyone can make a nomination. The nominees will be judged on individual achievements such as service to the community, acts of bravery, overcoming life’s difficulties, young carer, business skills, outstanding performance at school or college, or in the fields of sport or entertainment. The winner will have her name engraved on the Club’s large trophy. She will receive an engraved miniature trophy, presented by the Mayor of Wigan, together with a cash prize of £100. The age range for nominees is 11-19 years and they must come from the catchment area of the Club, which is essentially the Wigan Borough excluding the Leigh, Tyldesley and Atherton districts.

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The nomination form can be obtained on request from secretary.siwigan@gmail.com or can be downloaded from the website www.sigbi.org/wigan. The deadline for applications is 30th October 2021.

Business Breakfast Wigan Athletic’s Chief Executive Mal Brannigan is the guest speaker at Wigan Youth Zone’s Business Breakfast event on Friday 3rd September. This popular monthly networking event is being held ‘in person’ for the first time in 2021, and hot drinks will be available from 7am, with breakfast barms following shortly afterwards. The event finishes at 9am/9.15am and is sponsored by rijo42 and Kings Fine Cooked Meats. Entrance to the meeting is £10 per person to support the ongoing work at Wigan Youth Zone. To book your place please email sharon.mclaren@wiganyouthzone.org. The deadline for bookings is 5.00pm on Wednesday 1st September, so please book as early as you can.

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Slow-roasted paprika chicken with lemon and artichokes Serves 6 Prep time: 10 minutes Cook: 2 hours 30 minutes

This is such an easy recipe. Everything is simply placed in a roasting dish and slow-cooked in the oven, creating an amazing spicy lemony flavour. Serve leftovers for lunch the following day cold with salad.

Ingredients

Method

1 tbsp smoked paprika 1 tsp sumac 3 tbsp olive oil 1 organic chicken, jointed 1 bulb of garlic (separated into unpeeled cloves) Sprig of thyme 2 unwaxed lemons, cut into quarters 150 ml chicken stock Black pepper 1 x 400g can artichoke hearts

1. Pre-heat the oven to 160°C/150°C fan/gas mark 3. 2. Mix together the paprika, sumac and olive oil. Put the chicken pieces into a roasting tin and add the garlic cloves, thyme and lemon quarters. Pour over the paprika oil and rub all over the chicken pieces. 3. Drizzle over the stock and season with black pepper. Cover the dish with foil and cook in the oven for 2 hours. 4. Remove the foil from the roasting tin, add the artichoke hearts and turn the oven up to 200°C/180°C fan/gas mark 6. Cook for another 30 minutes or until the chicken is golden.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION PER SERVING: 387kcal, fat 27.8g (of which saturates 7g), carbohydrate 1.4g (of which sugars 0.6g), protein 33.2g.

Quinoa and Feta Burgers

with Tomato Relish Makes 6 burgers Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 40 minutes A vegetarian burger packed with flavour and topped with a simple tomato relish.

Ingredients 80g / scant ½ cup quinoa 2 tsp bouillon vegetable stock powder or a vegetable stock 2 tbsp olive oil ½ red onion, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 tsp ground cumin 1 x 400g can kidney beans drained 115g / 4oz feta cheese, crumbled 1 tbsp parsley, chopped 1 tbsp mint, chopped 2 tbsp cornflour Salt and pepper

Tomato Relish 4 tomatoes, quartered 1 red onion, quartered 1 tbsp olive oil ½ small chipotle chilli, soaked in warm water for 20 minutes 1 tbsp fresh coriander 2 tsp xylitol 2 tsp balsamic vinegar

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION PER BURGER WITH RELISH (NO BUN): 215kcal, protein 8.5g, carbohydrates 24g (of which sugars 6.2g), fat 9.7g (of which saturates 3.4g)

Method 1. Add the quinoa to 250ml water with the bouillon powder or stock cube and bring to the boil. Lower the heat and simmer with the lid on for 15 minutes until cooked. Keep the lid on and let the quinoa sit in the pan for another 10 minutes. Place in a bowl. 2. For the relish, preheat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas mark 4 and place the tomatoes and onion on a baking tray. Drizzle over the oil and cook in the oven for 15 minutes until soft. Place in a food processor with the remaining ingredients and pulse to form a thick and chunky puree. Allow to cool. 3. Heat 1 tbsp of the olive oil in frying pan. Add the onion, garlic and cumin. Cook, stirring for about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the beans, feta and cooked quinoa. Stir in the herbs and cornflour and mash with potato masher to break up the beans. When cool enough to handle, divide into 6 portions and shape into burgers. 4. Heat the remaining olive oil in a frying pan on a medium-high heat. Add the burgers and cook until browned on each side, about 5-6 minutes. 5. To serve, place the burgers into burger buns and arrange over the toppings of your choice.

Golf Fundraiser It’s almost time to tee off for the Annual Golf Day to raise funds for Wigan Youth Zone.

Quiz Names in Film Titles Listed below are the titles of ten films released in the given years, where the first names of any characters from these films have been replaced by their surnames, and where only the initial letters of all other words are given.

Can you give the correct titles of these films? 1. T. S. A. Jensen (1998) 2. M. C. Gambini (1992) 3. M. Rockatansky (1979) 4. Heslop’s W. (1994) 5. Campbell’s W. (1992) 6. W. N. T. T. A. Khatchadourian (2011) 7. W. Burns M. Albright (1989) 8. Preston A. Logan’s E. A. (1989) 9. T. Burbank. S. (1998) 10. W. A. Lomax’s (1989)

Quiz solutions can be found on page 88 of this magazine

This year’s event, which is in being held in collaboration with Clarkes’ Golf, is taking place on Friday 10th September at Dean Wood Golf Club in Up Holland. The cost is £200 for a team of four, and teams can be gents or ladies or a mix of both. Tee times are staggered and will be available from 9.00am to 3.15pm. Prizes will be given for the best team score and for those who place nearest the pin at all Par 3 holes. Tee/Green sponsorship is also available at £50 per hole. If you’d like to book a team or place sponsorship, and raise money for Wigan Youth Zone contact David via email at davidclarkegolf@hotmail.co.uk

Fubhub Meet Up The ladies from the Wigan branch of Females Uniting in Business would like to invite you to their next event on Wednesday 8th September. The ladies share ideas, help take the pressure off any business issues and help each other secure business sales. The cost of the meeting is £5 per person and all proceeds go back into the group so that they can hold events and raise money for local charities. For more information about the next meeting or to join the group please email enquiries@fubhub.co.uk

Shout Out Charities such as the Samaritans have helped thousands of people through the difficulties of the past eighteen months, particularly those without family and friends. The services that the Samaritans provide are funded by retail shops throughout the UK and the local Wigan retail shop is desperately short of volunteers. Can you spare any time, even just a couple of hours a week, to help at the Wigan shop, which is located at 39 Hallgate? If so, the Shop Manager Jean Ashby would love to hear from you. Please give Jean a call on 01744 894122 or 0742 566 842.

top Grades education Top Grades Education, based on Cross Street in Standish, offers tuition for pupils in Y5 to GCSE. Our aim is to create confident learners and students that enjoy their studies whilst reaching their potential. The parents of our students tell us they see huge improvements in their children’s confidence after attending Top Grades classes. Our child-centred approach supports children to be more assured in their ability, and confident students achieve their top grades.

Learn from the best Our fantastic team of fully qualified, specialist teachers have many years of experience. We have worked with every type of learner and can effectively guide your child to develop their skills and confidence while enthusing them with their passion for their subject. We offer expert tuition in the core subjects of English, Maths, Science, and we also offer tuition in Spanish and French. english: A qualification in English opens doors to further study and supports children to access every other subject. We develop literacy skills: focusing on spelling, punctuation, grammar and expanding vocabulary. We will develop your child’s skills in reading, writing and spoken language

and prepare children for English Language and English Literature GCSE. We can even take the fear out of Shakespeare! mathematics: Increasing confidence is the key to improvement in Maths. We often encounter children with a ‘fear of getting it wrong’, we provide a safe space to develop understanding and make the errors that unearth key misconceptions. Our assessment identifies the key topics that will support your child to improve, each child works on their individual areas for development. science: In our science classes your child will gain confidence and deepen their understanding of scientific fundamentals; application of scientific methods and skills to help them progress and achieve their best grades. Lessons are now available across foundation and higher tier, double and triple award. Languages: Our French and Spanish classes are a truly immersive experience, learners will communicate in their chosen language and explore the key elements of reading, writing, speaking and listening. Your child’s confidence with bloom as they try new words and phrases in a fun, friendly environment. neW adult spanish Conversation Classes: Would you like to learn to speak Spanish so that you can understand the locals and have a conversation on holiday? Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world. Imagine how many more people you could speak to with one of our adult Spanish conversation classes. home-educated Children: We cater for home-educated children and can provide sessions in English, Maths and Languages during the day. We can cater for individuals or small groups and tailor the curriculum for each student.

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‘My daughter started Maths tuition with Top Grades Education just after Easter and the results are already beginning to show. She has gained confidence in her Maths and has actually started to enjoy it thanks to Richard.’- Year 9 Parent ‘Richard is an excellent teacher but most of all motivates and inspires my son in maths. He really enjoys the sessions, and I can see his confidence grow with every lesson that he attends.’ – Year 10 Parent ‘Emma is an inspirational and fantastic teacher. Top Grades Education is the premier league of tutoring.’ – Year 10 Parent ‘I can’t thank you enough for all of your enthusiasm, your skills in bringing the subject alive and making the subject interesting. That’s a tall order indeed with a teenage boy, yet you do it effortlessly. It was the best decision I made to come to Top Grades.’ – Year 10 Parent

If you have a child that could benefit from our expertise, please get in touch and see how we can help. There are limited places available for this term, so book your child’s free assessment today!

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Cooking with the Kids Top tips before you start This is a great time to start teaching your child about food hygiene and safety. Even toddlers can quickly learn that they need to wash their hands before cooking and not to touch the hob when it’s on. Older children can learn how to use an oven glove and knife, why it’s important to clean surfaces and so on. Do always supervise kids when they’re cooking though. All the recipes should feed four people for lunch or dinner.

Bored of baking fairy cakes? Help your kids’ cooking skills reach the next level with our easy recipes.

Pepper and tomato pasta Ingredients • Half an onion • Three large red or yellow salad peppers • Two cloves of garlic • One tablespoon of olive oil • One carton of passata • One tin of chopped tomatoes • A pinch of dried basil • Approx. 400g of dried wholemeal spaghetti • Cheese to sprinkle on top

Method • Chop the onion, peppers and garlic. Warm the olive oil on a medium heat in a large saucepan. Add the chopped vegetables and lightly sauté for a few minutes. Add the passata, tinned tomatoes and dried basil. Pop the lid on and leave to simmer on a low heat for 15 minutes. • Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti in a large pan of boiling water for 10 minutes (or as long as it says on the packet). • Blend the sauce until smooth and spoon it over the cooked pasta. Add grated cheese if required. If there’s any sauce left, freeze it for another day.

Cheesy egg muffins Ingredients • • • •

8 eggs 100ml of milk 1-2 slices of ham A handful of vegetables, e.g. sliced mushrooms, chopped tomatoes, tinned sweetcorn • Approx. 120g of cheddar cheese

Method • Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas mark 6. Lightly grease a muffin tin with butter.

Cheat’s pizza Ingredients • 2 part-baked baguettes • 4-5 tablespoons of passata (or just use ketchup mixed with a dollop of tomato puree) • Toppings, e.g. shredded ham, cooked sweetcorn, pineapple chunks, pepperoni • Approx. 250g of grated mozzarella or cheddar

• Whisk the eggs and milk together.

Method

• Tear the ham into small pieces. Add the vegetables and ham to each individual muffin cup. Pour in the eggs and top with grated cheese.

• Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C fan/ gas mark 6.

• Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes. (Use a skewer or sharp knife to check they’re cooked.) • Eat hot with fries or cold with salad.

• Cut each baguette in half lengthways. Spread passata on the long cut sides. • Add your toppings, followed by cheese, and pop the pizzas in the oven for 10 minutes.

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A school which mixes tradition and innovation – pupils have made excellent use of their iPads during the pandemic

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Exciting trips and visits, including to Patterdale Hall, our own outdoor centre in the Lake District

Excellent preparation for Senior School

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A Guide to Wooden Floors Laminate or solid, engineered or reclaimed, timber flooring is a classic choice that works in every room of the house. It’s less cold and hard on the feet than stone or tiles, better at repelling stains than carpet and is endlessly good-looking, whether in a period property or a new home. This reclaimed teak, available in random-width planks, has been repaired and stained. Woodworks by Ted Todd Rare Finds Dark Colonial Teak, £POA, Ted Todd: 01925 284 496; tedtodd.co.uk.

Preparing for a new timber floor Timber floors can be fitted anywhere in the house, on solid or suspended floors, although – because wood expands and contracts according to humidity – they’re often not advised for bathrooms or other wet areas. In this case, it’s best to stick to high-quality engineered wood. Insulate the sub-floor before you start, and consider what effect the new flooring will have on your final floor level – which may affect thresholds and require doors to be cut across the bottom so they will open and close. When fixing the boards down, make sure to avoid any pipes and wires that run beneath the existing floor. To keep your final floorcovering pristine, avoid fitting it until all the ‘wet’ or dirty building work is complete.

What type of timber floor? Floorboards laid in a chevron pattern create a stylish base for a sophisticated room scheme. Lottie grand sofa in Isla Kingfisher with darkened oak legs, £2,425; Brompton reading floor lamp in brass, £350; Matilda armchair in Imogen Holkham Sand with pale oak legs, £795; Keswick square coffee table, £500; all Neptune: www.neptune.com.

Laminate floorboards are usually made from a resinimpregnated decorative paper surface layer (with photographs of real wood), bonded to a thin MDF or chipboard core. With cheap versions it can be easy to spot the pattern repeat , and they’re not especially durable, but more expensive brands are very tough and come with long guarantees.

29 Solid wood is exactly that – whatever type of wood it is composed of goes all the way through the board, so it looks and feels entirely natural and can be sanded again and again. Engineered wood (sometimes called multi-layer or, confusingly, laminated) is made from layers of solid timber or a veneer of solid timber on top of MDF, plywood, chipboard or softwood, with a balancing veneer beneath. Most are made up of either three or five layers, crossbonded for greater stability. A top layer of at least 5mm allows for limited sanding if necessary. The advantage of engineered boards over solid ones is that they shouldn’t warp, gap, cup or bow. Reclaimed boards have a beautiful patina that simply can’t be replicated, and are the environmentally friendly option. They don’t come cheap, as they often require work to remedy problems such as woodworm, ingrained dirt and stains, dents and splits, variations in thickness or colour, broken tongue and groove, and lots of old nails. When buying, always ask where the wood came from and how it’s been stored since it was reclaimed – timber that has stood outside for any length of time may be useless, and would need to dry out considerably before it could be used again. As a rule of thumb, pine is cheaper than oak, and narrower boards are cheaper than wider ones.

Style and finish Most timber floors sold in the UK are made from European oak, which has a lovely grain and is very longlasting. There are, however, many other choices, including beech, maple, ash, walnut, merbau, cherry and, of course, pine. As for finishes, options include stains, waxes, oils, varnishes and limewashes, each of which can subtly change the appearance of the final floor. An important consideration is the form and laying pattern of the boards. Both solid and engineered wood flooring is available as boards (in varying widths), strips (less than 10cm wide), smallish blocks (extremely strong) and parquet (like blocks, but thinner). While boards are traditionally laid parallel to one another, designers are increasingly turning to the contemporary effect of chevron and herringbone styles, while parquet has had something of a renaissance in recent years, with intricately patterned squares that look glamorous and dramatic.

A white-oil finish creates a clean, fresh look in this bright entrance hall. Oak White oiled brushed wood flooring, £72 per square metre, The Natural Wood Floor Company: 020 8871 9771; naturalwoodfloor.co.uk.

LOOKING AFTER A WOODEN FLOOR Wood floors don’t need a great deal of special treatment. The main thing to remember is not to let them get too wet, to install a good doormat and take off stilettos, which will punch small holes everywhere. Remove dust and grit regularly by vacuuming or cleaning with a soft broom. Mop occasionally, but don’t soak the wood or leave water sitting on it – wring the mop head as much as possible, then wipe over again with a dry mop. Using a proprietary cleaning product will make your floor look better and last longer – ask your retailer for advice. And don’t forget that a new wooden floor will naturally become darker or lighter as it matures.

Open for Everyone Open Water Swimming has come to Wigan and you can join this invigorating form of exercise at Three Sisters Water-Ski Club, based on Landgate Lane in Bryn. Swimming sessions take place every Wednesday between 7-8.30pm and are hosted by the Endurance Store in Wrightington. There are coached sessions every week and are suitable for complete novices right through to advanced swimmers. Every third week is race night and there are a range of distances to choose from, if you don’t fancy racing then you can still attend and swim at your own pace. The swims are limited to 120 people, wetsuits are compulsory and under 16’s must have a swim float.

Places are £6 per session, so to book your slot or find out more go online to https://theendurancecoach.com/ open-water-swimming.

Foodie Fridays Foodie Fridays have returned to Haigh for the first time since September 2019. The event, which takes place within the Courtyard at Haigh Country Park, runs on the last Friday of every month until 29th October. Visitors can sample street food from different corners of the globe and there’s music too. Foodie Fridays is a family friendly event and dogs are also welcome. The events run from 6pm-10pm and car parking is free.

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A rug for every room It’s quick and easy to add softness underfoot while introducing a stylish element of colour and pattern. Add bohemian style to your living room, dining room or bedroom with this hand-tufted, unusual wool/cotton rug.

Handwoven by Berbers in the Atlas Mountains, this soft and luxurious rug is fully customisable to create your dream design. Lozenge rug, jet black on natural wool, £899, Cosy Coco.

Dutchbone round pix rug with tassels, £389, Cuckooland.

THE LOWDOWN ON RUGS

Spark a little one’s imagination with a softer take on the popular rainbow motif, complete with boho tassels. Earth Rainbow rug with tassels, £13, Sass & Belle.

Get cosy with a cream, textural rug that’s perfect for enjoying a fireside mug of hot chocolate while wrapped in a blanket.

• Rugs look beautiful on wooden, stone and tiled floors (always use an underlay to keep them safely in place) and add welcome softness. Texture is important, in terms of both material and weave – piled wool or flat-woven cotton (which is thinner but more easily put through the washing machine), or perhaps nubby jute or sisal, tougher on the toes, but durable and with a certain rugged charm. • Gone are the days of choosing between only rectangular or circular rugs. These days, anything goes, from oval to rainbow-shaped and even irregular outlines. Tufted rugs, too, play with different heights of pile to introduce an intriguing textural element. • Add extra interest with some boho tassels (very on trend) or a more restrained finishing edge. This works well with a neutral rug that picks up a contrast border colour from elsewhere in the room.

Teddy rug, £395, Loaf.

Tap into the trend for geometric statement rugs with this fashionable pure wool rug, available in three colours and two sizes. Hackney handwoven rug, wool/cotton blend, Yellow Diamond, £159, Cult Furniture.

• Don’t make the mistake of buying a rug that is too small for a room. In general, it is best to go as big as possible, so that all the furniture (or at least its front legs) can sit on the rug. • For global glamour, look no further than a rug. From Indian dhurries and Greek flokatis to Middle Eastern kilims and French Aubussons, they each provide wonderful style, colour, pattern and texture.

Don’t

Suffer in Silence

The ability to hear is one of our most important senses. Hearing enables us to connect to and make sense of the world. It’s the brain’s main connection to what’s happening around us and our hearing is always on duty, 24 hours a day, every day.

How do we hear? Hearing is complex and requires a series of actions and reactions in order to work. The process involves many parts of the ear working together to convert soundwaves into information that your brain understands and interprets as sounds. Being able to hear well enables us to enjoy life to the fullest. We’re adept at being able to quickly differentiate between myriad sounds, what they represent and how we should respond. Your sense of hearing also helps to keep you safe and alert to possible dangers.

Hearing problems Being able to hear well is something we tend to take for granted, yet ear problems can develop at any time due to blockages or infections. You might also find your balance is affected. The good news is most ear conditions can usually be treated and don’t lead to long-term problems.

Here are some of the common causes of ear discomfort. Earwax build-up Earwax is produced inside your ears to keep them clean and free of germs. This usually passes out of the ear harmlessly but sometimes too much wax can build up and lead to blocked ears. It’s a very common problem and can often be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) ear drops. There are several types you can use, including drops containing sodium bicarbonate, olive oil or almond oil. Some people naturally produce a lot of earwax leading to regularly blocked ears. Other factors that can increase the risk of too much wax building up include: • Producing naturally hard or dry earwax • Having narrow or hairy ear canals (this is the tube between the opening of the ear and the eardrum) • Getting older, as earwax becomes drier with age • Bony growths in the outer part of the ear canal • Frequently inserting objects into your ear canal, such as cotton buds or ear plugs If you have a build-up of earwax, you may experience symptoms such as earache, hearing loss, tinnitus,

33 itchiness, vertigo or develop an infection. Symptoms will usually improve once the excess wax has been removed but for this you may need to see a specialist. Pressure in your ears Your sinuses and ears are closely connected so when you have sinus congestion, this can lead to pressure in your ears. Having clogged sinuses can lead to pain, dizziness, and a muffled sensation in your ears. Treating the congestion in your sinuses is the first step. Try using a nasal saline decongestant spray or hold a warm, moist muslin cloth to your face – this can help to ease the pressure and discomfort. Drink plenty of fluids too, as staying hydrated can help to keep nasal mucus thin. Swimmer’s ear Despite the name, you don’t need to have been in the pool to get this! It has the medical name otitis externa and is an infection of the ear canal. Swimmer’s ear differs from common ear infections that can occur in young children after they have had a cold, such as middle-ear infections. The condition is usually caused by bacteria, although it can sometimes be brought on by a virus or fungus. Symptoms include itching in the ear, pain, and

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trouble hearing (sound may seem muffled as your ear canal swells). You might also experience fluid draining out of the ear. Prescription ear drops are the most common treatment for this condition.

Hearing loss This is a common problem that often develops gradually with age, although it can also be caused by repeated exposure to loud noises. Hearing loss affects around 12 million people in the UK. General signs of hearing loss include difficulty hearing other people clearly or misunderstanding what they say, asking people to repeat themselves or regularly watching TV with the volume turned up higher. There are a number of treatment options for hearing loss. What’s recommended will depend on the cause of your hearing problems.

Who to ask for help? A sudden change to your hearing is likely to need an appointment with your GP. But if you have ongoing problems such as regular earwax build-up, or you have gradual age-related hearing loss, then it’s worth visiting a specialist.

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Past Forward -

The Rewind

1991 will go down in history as a remarkable year. The World Wide Web was rolled out to the public, the USSR ceased to exist, the first Gulf War began and so did the Balkan war. And in other 1991 news, Wigan Council launched Past Forward, a magazine aimed at providing local history information for residents of the Borough.

to have a vehicle whereby we could pass on information about the service to staff and the local community alike.”

This year Past Forward celebrated its 30th birthday, and so impressed were we with this achievement that we decided to go behind the scenes at the magazine and highlight just a few of the people behind the success story of Past Forward.

Alastair went on to explain that editing a magazine and writing articles are two very different things, and it wasn’t his intention to Alastair Gillies write the magazine, he needed contributions. Alastair continued, “The first edition was very well received, lots of lovely comments and after that I was inundated with ideas and stories, so my job was really to piece it altogether.

Alastair Gillies Alastair was the first Editor of Past Forward and he worked on the magazine from its first issue in 1991. Not only was he instrumental in running the magazine, but the magazine was also his idea! Alastair told me, “At the time the heritage service was very new, and we had just amalgamated the museum, archives and history shop into one complete service. I thought it would be a good idea

“The support for the magazine was huge, the leisure department really got behind it even though it was a very new thing, and the readers have always been very complimentary – all in all it was a success.” Alastair retired in 2005 and is now living in Formby. He likes to keep himself busy with daily dog walks on the beach, church activities, playing the organ, meeting up with his local branch of the U3A and he is even researching and compiling a local family history book! Alastair clearly has a passion for history and when I asked if he still read the magazine, he told me that he had a study full of back issues.

Alex Miller The current Editor of Past Forward is Alex Miller, the Lead Officer - Archives & Local Studies, who is based at the recently renovated Leigh Town Hall, a building that has recently been

Alex Miller with the first copy of Past Forward

39 transformed into a hugely impressive, state-of-the-art, archive facility for the entire Borough. Alex joined Wigan Council in 2007 from the archives at Unilever, which are based at the multinational company’s historical home at Port Sunlight on the Wirral. I start by asking Alex how difficult it is to select what content to use in Past Forward. “There’s a groundswell of interest in Past Forward and we usually have plenty of content to choose from, but the hard part is balancing the content so that the content is from as many different parts of the Borough and also making sure that we don’t focus too much on a single subject, such as mining or rugby, in one single issue”. Alex goes on to explain how an annual history essay competition, (sponsored for the past decade or so by former Shevington Councillor John O’Neill and his late wife Barbara), produces a flow of contributors to Past Forward, “We have around a dozen regular contributors and the content that they send us is supplemented by those who enter the competition. “Often the people who enter the competition go on to produce other content for Past Forward on a regular basis”. I asked Alex whether there were any issues from his time as Editor which he was particularly proud of and he immediately highlighted the Women’s History issue and the World War 1 issue. “I worked with my colleague Hannah Turner on both of these issues, and they stand out for different reasons”, said Alex. “So much of history is written by men, from a

40 male perspective, and the articles in that particular issue were uniquely female-led and we received a lot of very positive feedback. “The WW1 issue carried so many powerful and emotive pieces, and we had quite a few readers who, after reading the issue, were able to jump into their own family histories”. Before shooting off to avoid a parking ticket, I asked Alex why he thought Past Forward had been so successful over thirty years. “We are 100% reliant on the passion of our volunteers and the knowledge of our contributors” concludes Alex, “Past Forward just wouldn’t exist without their contributions”.

Yvonne Eckersley One of the volunteers at Archives: Wigan & Leigh and an enthusiastic contributor to Past Forward is Yvonne Eckersley. Leyther Yvonne retired in 2008 as a primary school teacher and wanted to ‘give something back’ to the community. Yvonne told me that she has a lifetime interest in history

and that the Archives was a natural choice when she was on the lookout for post-retirement activities. “I felt the skills I had developed whilst studying for my history degree would be useful to the Archives. “I was specifically interested in ordinary people’s history, the type of people whose lives weren’t accurately represented in history books. The experience of writing my dissertation on the rise of the Labour Movement in Leigh convinced me of the need to research and reveal the rich nature of our local history”. A few years ago, the Archives service published an anthology of all the pieces Yvonne has contributed to the magazine and she is currently researching the life and times of Helen Fairhurst (nee Silcock) who lived between 18651951, in the Pemberton and Goose Green area of Wigan. But Yvonne has not-so-fond memories of the first task she was asked to complete at the Archives. She confesses “My first job was cataloguing wills written in the 1600’s which was very complicated and cumbersome, and I did think that I was given that job to test out whether I had ‘stickability’, but I survived and lived to tell the tale!”.

The latest issue of Past Forward is available at the Borough’s libraries at a cost of £2, or you can buy an annual subscription to Past Forward for £6 plus P&P via the Council’s website here;

www.wigan.gov.uk/Resident/Museums-archives/Subscribe-to-Past-Forward-Magazine.aspx Archived issues of Past Forward are available online here;

www.wigan.gov.uk/Resident/Museums-archives/Past-Forward.aspx

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4 Reasons

why your home hasn’t sold In a perfect world, you’d list your home for sale, schedule viewings, receive multiple offers, and sell your home fast and above list price. Unfortunately, selling your house isn’t always that simple and your home could end up sitting on the market longer than you anticipated. Let’s dive in and discuss four likely reasons your home hasn’t sold and what you can do to fix the problems.

Your home needs improvements Being a homeowner means keeping your home and property in good condition. You may need to put a little time and money into your home so you can receive more offers and sell your house quickly. Furthermore, if you’ve had buyers interested in your home, but maintenance problems are encountered during the home survey, you could end up losing the sale. The solution? Before listing your home for sale, start researching what other similar homes are being sold for. If other sellers (in close proximity) and in your price range have a recently remodelled kitchen or bathroom, or new flooring throughout, they’ll likely outshine your listing. Research your options on which home upgrades will give you the most ‘bang for your buck’ in your market. If you know there are issues that will be highlighted in a survey, make sure to address these before putting your home on the market.

Your home is priced too high Pricing a house too high happens more often than you might think. The longer your over-priced home stays on the market, the more likely it is that you’ll need to drop the asking price. Typically, if a home sits on the market for a long time, buyers will assume it’s because something is wrong with it.

The solution? Check what similar homes in your area are listed (and have sold for) and use an online calculator for a home value estimate. Your agent will also be able to work with you to price your home competitively with an expertise that can’t be matched with online tools. Don’t be tempted to go with the highest offer, but rather the one that’s well researched out – you can ask your agent how they arrived at a certain price.

Your home is cluttered and dirty It happens to all of us. Your daily mess just becomes junk that you overlook day-by-day. But trust me – the piles of paper, boxes of toys, and mounds of clothes will definitely be noticed by potential buyers. Clutter will distract buyers from your home’s best features and will make the space appear smaller. The solution? As you’re decluttering, be sure to pack away family photos, excess books and clothes. Instead of stashing your stuff in closets, box up what you don’t need and store it elsewhere. Then clean your house from top to bottom. Wipe and dust every surface, decoration, and window inside and out. Mop and vacuum carpets and floors.

Your kerb appeal isn’t appealing Take a walk around your street – why do some homes appear inviting and others less so? Is it the green lawn and the neatly cut hedges? The fresh coat of paint? Now, walk past your home and try to picture yourself as a potential buyer. What needs work? The solution? Many buyers won’t even visit your home if it doesn’t look nice from the outside. Your lawn, hedges and trees should be neat and there shouldn’t be any visible weeds. Have your windows washed and hire a power washing company to clean driveways. The longer your home sits on the market, the less appealing it will become to buyers. Identify what is preventing potential buyers from making any offers and fix the issues as soon as possible. This way, you can sell your house quickly.

Alan Batt is a member of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and has worked within the Wigan property market for over 30 years.

Alan Batt

For more of Alan’s tips, guidance and analysis on the Wigan property market, check out his blog at

www.alanbatt.co.uk

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Pem Family Funday

Mums’ Fitness

Pemberton Community Association, with help from Wigan Council, are holding a family fun day on Saturday September 4.

Trying to keep fit as a new mum can be hard, but these fitness classes in Garswood may help to change that situation.

The fun day will take place between 11am-5pm and promises to be packed full of music, entertainment and family fun; including Kevin the Klown, the Luna Lush fun bus, a crepe stall, food stall, funfair rides and more!

Sweaty Mama is the fun, effective and interactive workout with your child and babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. The class is suitable for mums with children aged 6 weeks to four-years-old.

The event is taking place as part of the Council’s ‘Our Town LIVE’ initiative to welcome people back to shopping on their high street. For more information about Our Town LIVE and to see other areas and dates for events please go online at www.wigan.gov.uk/OurTown.

The six-week courses costs £35 and classes take place every Friday at 10-11am in the Parish Hall on Montrey Crescent. For more information or to book your place please go online at https://smwigansouth.sweatymama. com

Cash for Clutter eBay once dominated the online selling market, but nowadays you’re spoilt for choice on where to sell your unwanted clothes, furniture and homeware. Whether you’re moving house, redecorating or just trying to live more minimally, we’ve gathered together some of the best websites and ways to rehome your clutter.

boot sale: cheap, Shpock sells itself as an online car e to get rid of plac local and full of surprises. It’s your attention on h muc those smaller items that won’t get , from cushions to bigger sites like Gumtree or eBay between. children’s clothes and everything in want to promote It’s completely free to list, unless you in the payment an item. Shpock doesn’t get involved negotiated, it’s up process either. Once a price has been ery and payment. deliv ge arran to the buyer and seller to

From sofas and desks to cars, pets and even rooms to rent, Gumtree has it all. Gumtree is used to look for items locally, so putting your postcode in the listing is paramount. If you want your ad to get some extra attention, you can put some money behind it, but other than that it’s free.

A must-download if you’re into vinta ge fashion, Depop is a great place to sell homemade or vintage clothes, shoes and accessories – the quirkier, the better. Listing your items is free, but once an item sells, Depop will charge a 10% fee on the sale price. Then there’s also a small PayPal transaction fee to be aware of. However, Depop can fetch you a high price and with over 18 million users, and it’s very pop ular right now.

Marketplace Facebook Marketplace is hot on eBay’s heels as the best place to swap your clutter for cash. The best part is there are no fees, so the profit is all yours. Like Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace is used to sell locally. It’s a platform many of us are already familiar with too, which means you can keep up to date with friends and family, and clear some space in your house, all from one website.

Top tips for selling Spend time taking good pictures Photograph your items in a well-lit area of your house or garden, and from multiple angles. The more descriptive, the better Pad out your listing with as much information as you can, including dimensions, condition and your reason for selling.

tly older target Similar to Depop, but with a sligh e marketplace for audience, Vinted is a huge onlin s. Upmarket high selling clothes, with millions of user ed a popular Zara Bagg er. bett street brands tend to do can probably You ? days in handbag that sold out with d. sell it for twice the price on Vinte

selling your items There are no fees for uploading or the buyer. on Vinted, but there is a small fee to

Be honest Reviews are key to building your online selling profile, so avoid the temptation to skim over any defects in your listing. Think seasonally Certain items, like garden furniture, will fetch a higher price in the summer, while warm woolly jumpers will do better in the winter.

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Heritage Open Days Organised by volunteers every September, Heritage Open Days is one of England’s biggest voluntary cultural events. It attracts some 800,000 people every year and allows people free access to historical landmarks, many of which are either not usually open to the public or would normally charge an entrance fee. It’s your chance to find hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are free. Heritage Open Days were established in 1994 as England’s contribution to European Heritage Days, in which 49 countries now participate. Amongst the events taking place locally is the King Street Tour in Wigan. Billed as The Street That Was, this event includes a tour around the King Street Heritage Action Zone, explaining how the street has developed over the centuries. Tales of the lost buildings of King Street will be told enroute to a number of stops at buildings and areas of special interest including; Grimes Arcade, The Royal Court Theatre, Timberlakes and Rowbottom Square.

This tour is available on Sunday 12 September (2pm), Tuesday 14 September (10.30am), Thursday 16 September (10.30am) and Sunday 19 September (2pm). No booking is required. The tour starts at the Wigan Miners Memorial outside the front door of the Life Centre South. Two Heritage Open Day events are also scheduled to take place in nearby Lathom. Dating back to 1500, the beautiful Lathom Park Chapel will be opening its doors to the general public on Sunday 12 September between 2pm-4pm. And at the nearby Scout HQ on Hall Lane, there will be an Outdoor Medieval banquet with living history and historical displays based on medieval Lathom Park. This event will take place on Saturday 11th September between 12pm-6pm. Pre-booking is required for this event so please email secretary-lathomparktrust@ outlook.com by 1st September. To search for more events, check out the website at www. heritageopendays.org.uk

Give your home the

Timber treatment Wood has always been a reliable, durable and functional choice for home furnishings, and recently it has had a bit of a design rejuvenation; forget dated and drab flatpack furniture, modern timber is all about showcasing its many other features, including style and versatility. Local business, Funky Timber, based in Wharton Street in St Helens, is a perfect example of how sleek, neat, timber finishes can add a warming earthy tone to your home. And with over 50 years of trade experience under their belts, you’re in safe hands! Funky Timber is a family run business, established in July 2019 by Daniel Slater and partner Lauren Wareing. Since then, the business has continued to grow and they now employ a team of dedicated staff, including joiners and fabricators, to offer customers the finest bespoke furniture, timber cladding and home accessories. Daniel told Local Life, “We offer our clients a wide range of products from internal and external timber cladding with various colour and design options, to bespoke Funky Timber branded furniture and a fabrication unit where all aspects of steelwork can be offered. Every piece of furniture is handcrafted in house meaning each single item is individual to that customer.” Mismatched cladding may sound like a questionable style for a feature wall, but as this portfolio shows, it’s certainly effective. The selection or new timber

or reclaimed timber creates an eye-catching update, brimming with coolness and character, it even caught the eye of designers from DIY SOS and the Funky Timber team were called in to help on a recent project. Daniel has over 18 years of carpentry experience, and he prides himself on being able to offer quality products to transform any room at competitive prices. Daniel added, “We source top quality materials with wood and steel, and every item is prepared in our warehouse. We also offer a full fitting service for all our products and all our work is carried out to the highest standards. We offer all aspects of joinery for home and commercial jobs including shop fitting. “We will provide a free quote on request, all you need to do is send over your measurements, address and what colours you are thinking of, and our team will send over your quote as soon as possible.” Alternatively, customers can come to our unit and go through their designs or bespoke requests. Funky Timber is a vibrant company serving all corners of the UK with their stunning designs; so, whether you’re looking to revamp your home, garden or business premises with a stunning wooden wall or bespoke furniture, you can rest assured that Funky Timber will offer that to you and much more! Pop into the showroom and see how the team can make your designs come to life.

Main Office - 01744 747 787 Lauren - 07800 580 532 sales@funkytimber.co.uk Funky Timber, Unit 17b, Wharton St, St Helens, WA9 5AA www.funkytimber.co.uk

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Places for Everyone Wigan Council are working in partnership with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and all other Greater Manchester districts (except Stockport) to prepare a joint development plan called Places for Everyone. This plan replaces the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework which is no longer being taken forward following the withdrawal of Stockport Council from the joint plan in December 2020. Places for Everyone is a long-term plan for jobs, new homes, and sustainable growth and will help meet the city-region’s needs up until 2037. For further information on the Plan and the supporting evidence, and to submit comments, please visit the consultation website of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority www.gmconsult.org. A hard copy of the Places for Everyone Plan can be viewed at both Wigan Library and Leigh Library. This consultation closes on the 3rd October 2021. In relation to jobs and housing specifically within the Wigan Borough, the plan proposes following four site

allocations, including the land at M6 Junction 25. Land at M6 Junction 25 is proposed to consist of around 140,000 square metres of employment floorspace. Planning permission for employment development was granted on this site in July 2021. Delivery in accordance with this planning approval is not dependent on the site’s allocation in the Places for Everyone Plan. Its allocation in the new plan will remove the site from the Green Belt. To view the proposed policy, the site allocation boundary, and a Topic Paper providing an overview of the J25 site and a summary of the evidence supporting its allocation in the new plan you can visit www.gmconsult.org or on Wigan Council’s website. The other three proposed allocations affect Pocket Nook in Lowton, land north of Mosley Common and land west of Gibfield in Atherton. Place for Everyone also proposes to add six tracts of land to the area’s existing Green Belt, the largest of which is the Hope Carr Nature Reserve in Leigh.

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Schoolboy pens War Novel An Orrell schoolboy wrote a war book during lockdown and says he has several more in the pipeline.

publication of Allies and Axis, takes up the story. “George came to me one day and just told me he was going to write a book and the next thing I know, he had finished it”.

Four teen-year-old George Birch from Sandford Road in Tontine, a pupil at St Peter’s High School, wrote ‘Allies and Axis’ in just 2½ months last summer, and the book was published this summer by AuthorHouse UK. The story follows the tragic lives of Edward, Matthew and George as they experience two world wars and nuclear annihilation. The story was inspired by George’s great-grandad Edward Taylor, who died shortly after the second World War, and was fuelled by watching historic war programmes on TV and on DVDS. George’s Grandad, Bernard Birch, who financed the

George adds “The story started off on a single piece of paper and the storyline developed from there. I just put a plan of the story on paper and then worked on it day and night until it was finished”. George, whose spare time is usually spent playing X-Box and PC games, says that he put his hobbies to one side whilst he finished the book. “I’m a doer”, says history buff George, “I would like to turn this story into a six-part sequel”. ‘Allies and Axis’ is on sale now via Amazon, available on Kindle, and in softback and hardback.

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Helpers Needed

Sling Library

A Winstanley-based charity shop is looking for volunteers.

If you have a new baby and you want help with how to wear a sling, or to hire one, pop down to Pipsqueaks Play Café in Orrell on Tuesday August 31 and get help from The Orrell Sling Library.

The DEBRA shop on Winstanley Precinct helps fund research into Epidermolysis Bullosa, a group of painful genetic skin conditions that cause the skin to tear and blister at the slightest touch. People with EB have a faulty gene, which means the skin cannot bind together, so any trauma or friction can cause painful blisters. Volunteers are expected to sort through donations, stock shelves and serve customers. The shop opens from 9am4.30pm six days a week, but any time you can donate would be appreciated. For more information, call 01942 211278 or just call in and speak to Sharon or Colin.

Staff from the Warrington, Wigan and St Helens Sling Library will be at the playcentre from 10am-12pm with more than 200 slings and carriers to choose from. Booking is free for the general appointment slots but essential to ensure that they keep within occupancy figures. Booking closes 24 hours before the session, so to secure your place please go online at https://wawishlibrary. as.me/librarysessions

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COVID Funding Wigan Borough businesses working in the wedding, events and entertainment sector will benefit from a financial boost to help them recover from the pandemic. Wigan Council will be distributing £1.5million of government funding in three phases over the coming months. Phase one is now live and will target businesses working in or supporting the wedding, events and entertainment sectors who may have been ineligible for national schemes or have not received grants since early 2020. The council recently asked borough businesses to complete a survey to understand how they had been impacted by Covid-19, if they had received funding previously and what future support they needed. The Leader of Wigan Council, David Molyneux said: “The survey was a vital exercise to highlight the barriers businesses have experienced over the last 18 months. “It was clear from the responses we received, as well as conversations nationally, that the wedding, events and entertainment sector felt forgotten, which is why we have

prioritised them with this first round of funding.” Councillor Nazia Rehman, the local authority’s cabinet member for transformation and finance added “We’ve made a strategic decision to stagger the funds over three rounds in the coming months, each of which will target different businesses and will have different allocation processes. “Phase one has now opened, meaning that eligible businesses will benefit from a fixed payment of £1,000 and the following two phases are expected to open later this year after our teams finalise the allocation processes.” Phase two will have two strands. The first will focus on larger, established businesses in the borough with high employment numbers and the second will be directed at businesses who can demonstrate a future growth opportunity. Further eligibility criteria applies. Businesses eligible for funding in phase one are asked to apply now via the council’s website. www.wigan.gov. uk/Business/Business-Support/Additional-RestrictionsGrants.aspx

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by Chris Pearce Distance: 6¼ Difficulty: Medium Plus

Frodsham & Helsby

Occasionally when I collate a walk for Local Life, I get a suspicion that there’s room for improvement. The Sandstone Trail in spring 2020 was a case in point; the first half of the walk was a cracker, the back half just ok, so I popped over the Mersey again recently to scratch that itch. This wellsignposted 6¼ mile walk centres around two prehistoric hilltops enclosures; Helsby Hill and Woodhouse Hill. There are lots of climbs and some sheer cliffs on this walk, so I would recommend that you leave the kids at home and make sure you wear suitable footwear. Start the walk at the car park for Frodsham’s war memorial (WA6 6BG) and take the steep road downhill. Turn left at the Belle Monte Hotel and look for a footpath on your right which plunges you into

the woods. After a few short steps, the path forks so take the left fork uphill. After a few minutes walking – follow the yellow ‘S’ sign and go up the sandstone steps and you’ll arrive at the war memorial, the first of many impressive viewpoints on the walk. Carry on in the same direction past the war memorial and ease downhill for 200 yards – then take the lower path. The track continues, hugging the side of the hill in the shadow of sandstone cliffs until you ascend once more, briefly arriving at an open area at the top and then again sinking into the woods. You’ll soon arrive at a crossroad of paths by some wooden steps, turn right here following the NCW sign and you’ll arrive at multiple flights of steep steel steps, Take the steps carefully to the bottom of the sandstone valley and you arrive at a fingerpost – turn right to Carriage Drive.

60 Continue on the path downhill until you reach a distinctive wall; turn left here and take the steps down the steep hill. When you arrive at the foot of the hill where all the ferns are, there’s two options; turn right at this point. Follow the path through the woods, close to its perimeter with farmland for just under ¾ mile until you reach an exit marked Tarvin Road. Take this exit and walk down to the road; turn left and then first right into the single-track Chestnut Lane. At its conclusion Chestnut Lane narrows to a footpath: take the bridge across the stream and head in the same direction up the concrete steps. Follow this evernarrowing footpath until you arrive out in the open by a house called Tong Dean. Go through the gate opposite and follow the clearly defined footpath until you arrive in Helsby on Bates Lane. Turn right and then turn left at the crossroads on the Old Chester Road. Look out for a footpath sign

for ‘Helsby Hill’ on your left about 50 yards up that road. Turn up the narrow footpath for a short steep climb to an opening with three paths and a fingerpost. Take the second path marked ‘Hill Top’ and take a gentle enough climb, passing a cliff top viewpoint on the way, until you reach the summit of Helsby Hill, which is marked by a trig point. The views from the top of this hillfort are pretty impressive, 360-degree views of the Mersey Estuary and Liverpool, the mountains of North Wales and also the Shropshire Hills to the south. Exit the summit via the path directly opposite the path you took to arrive at the summit and follow that path downhill for approximately 150 yards. Take a left turn at a fingerpost (partly hidden on the left) towards ‘Harmers Lake’. 350 yards later, you’ll have passed the lake on the left and arrived at the single-track lane. Turn right downhill and once you’ve passed a secondary and the primary entrance to Harmers Wood on the left, there’s a signpost on the left to Tarvin Road. Follow this path for 400 yards to Tarvin Road and then turn left for 200 yards. Look for a signpost on your right (Alvaney/Burrows Lane), which is partly hidden behind a tree and take that path. Once you’ve crossed a bridge, turn left along the field’s perimeter in the direction of Woodhouse Hill. Once you reach Burrows Lane turn left and, at the T-junction, turn right and 350 yards later, take the left fork down a footpath/bridle path. Follow this long gentle incline for just under ¾ mile, ignoring the turn offs to Snidey Moor on the right and to Woodhouse Hill on the left. Once you reach the T-junction

Ha tle yL an e

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

Netherton

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Beacon Hill

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The Coppice

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Helsby

Woodhouse Hill

Higher Mickledale Farm

Nort

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Hawthorn Farm

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Bates

Helsby Hill Arboretum Foxhill Wood

Harmers Wood Foxhill Farm

Snidley Moor

Tower

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Home Farm

Elevation

Lowest 23m

100m

Highest 141m

50m 0.0km

Total ascent 425m 5.0km

10km

with bench on the right and the fingerpost on the left, turn left and then bear right at the next fork taking the path round the edge of the woodlands. Look for the path encased by a low sandstone wall on your left and follow this path to the top of Woodhouse Hill before sharply dropping down steps to a bench and an info board ‘Ice and Sea’. Turn right and follow the path gradually downhill, parallel to the golf course. Just past the tee for the 10th hole, take care when climbing down some steep sandstone steps. At the base, turn left, walk over the wooden bridge and you arrive at the fingerpost from earlier. Tackle the flights of steel stairs once again and retrace your steps for 100 yards or so until you see a turn to the right which takes you through undergrowth and onto the golf course. You need to look hard to see a slight dip running diagonally across the fairway heading to the left of the masts in the distance. As you cross the fairways, you’ll see a very apparent footpath in the distance that runs firstly through undergrowth and then runs onto a dirt track heading up to Simons Lane. Turn left when you reach Simons Lane and follow the road round a right-hand bend that runs downhill past the Forest Hills hotel back to the starting point.

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Money Matters TEACHING KIDS TO B E S AV V Y S AV E R S Most of us have made mistakes with money at some point. Help your children to avoid the same financial pitfalls by giving them the knowledge and skills to build on in the future.

Give them responsibility Part of appreciating the value of money is learning through mistakes. It’s tempting to step in and stop your child from spending their pocket money on things that you know they will quickly discard. Offer advice but let them make their own decisions on low-value items. They may well then think twice next time they want to buy a blind bag or an expensive T-shirt. When older children are ready, you could give them more responsibility for budgeting for the things they need by giving them an allowance for clothes, school dinners, travel expenses, toiletries, days out and so on, and helping them to work out a monthly budget. Again, they can earn more through chores if they want to save up for high-value items.

Teach them the value of money

Discuss money

Rather than buying your children sweets each week, give them pocket money, some of which they can use to buy sweets and some of which they can save for a bigger treat. It’s good for children to earn at least part of their pocket money by doing chores. They’ll learn that money doesn’t come for nothing and be less likely to waste it. To make life easier, you could use an app and debit card like RoosterMoney or Go Henry, which were created to help children get to grips with their finances and earn money through chores.

Don’t be afraid to talk about money with your children. You could share how much you’re setting aside each month for next year’s holiday for example, and talk about your own experiences with money. You can also help your child to see that, while it’s good to shop around for the best price, cheap doesn’t always mean best value. However, try not to make your child worried about family finances. It’s fine to talk about not being able to afford something or how you’re saving up for a big purchase, but you don’t want your child to lose sleep worrying that you won’t be able to pay the bills.

Help them to budget Encourage children to save up for something they really want rather than just waiting for Christmas or their birthday. You could start by explaining how much they’d need to save each week to achieve their goal. Younger children tend to need quicker results, so start with a small goal that can be achieved in a few weeks rather than months.

Learn from the experts Make the most of children’s love for online games. MyBnk is a UK charity on a mission to help children build good money habits. It has created a series of fun online courses for ages 5 to 21. You can access them for free at learning. mybnk.org/our-courses.

Bouncing Back

Local Life recently caught up with David Barton, Chief Executive Officer of Prosper Wealth Management in Standish to ask him about how the Covid pandemic affected his business.

last 20 years.

David, talk us through those first few weeks when Covid hit;

How has the pandemic affected your plans to expand Prosper Wealth Management?

“We secured new investment to grow the business in January 2020, and within a few weeks of that happening, we were forced to close the doors and rethink our working practices. “Despite the early challenges from a tech perspective of engaging with new and existing clients via Zoom etc, and setting our staff up to work from home, we did manage to operate reasonably efficiently, and everyone did a fantastic job of adapting to the challenges”. And how has it changed since restrictions have eased? “It’s been great welcoming staff and customers back through the doors, and I can honestly say that it’s been a real tonic hearing laughter and general office banter around the place. “There are customers who are still shielding and others who are understandably nervous about being out and about, so it’s handy that many people have now experienced communicating via Zoom etc, because we can offer video conferencing and a telephone service for those clients”.

“I was delighted when David agreed to join us - his skill set will be hugely beneficial to the team and will enable us to broaden our advisory capacity”

“As you can imagine, talking with business owners has been difficult over the past 16 months or so, but despite that, we have recently completed the purchase of another North-West based wealth management business which will be integrated into the Prosper Wealth Management Group, bringing our total funds under management to just over £435 million. “We are currently talking to other IFA’s, and I would anticipate that our growth will accelerate towards our objectives of achieving £1 billion under management within the next three years as restrictions continue to lift”. And finally, what are your wishes for the coming 12 months? “My real hope is that everyone can start to live their lives again without the constant Covid shadow hanging over them. “The travel and hospitality sectors in particular have had a torrid time, and the sooner these sectors can start to function again properly, the sooner the smiles will appear on people’s faces and we can start to enjoy life again.”

Did Covid impact on your staffing levels? “We actually managed to take on two new administrative staff in February/March of 2020 at the height of the crisis, and although it was very difficult to bed them in, they adapted to their new roles well and are now valuable members of the team. “More recently, we have strengthened our advisory team within the last couple of weeks with the appointment of David Wilson (pictured with David Barton above) who had previously worked for Standard Life in a senior role for the

If you would like more information, please feel free to get in touch on 01257 423800.

David Barton APFS Cert CII (MP)

Chief Executive Officer

Remember all investments can fall as well as rise in value so investors could get back less than they invest.

CMA Accountancy

The Benefits of Xero & Add-Ons We’re often asked by customers why we champion the popular accountancy software Xero so much. There are clear benefits to using Xero itself, but there are also a vast array of external 3rd party software and apps that can integrate effortlessly with Xero, ensuring that you have the tools to manage your entire businesses accounting and operations as efficiently as possible. Here is a selection of our favourite apps that our customers use, and we are always on the lookout for more on the Xero App Store! Bills and Expenses – Convert your receipts and invoices into Xero data seamlessly! • Dext Prepare: Scan, sort and publish paperwork directly into Xero, using the smart tools the software offers to analyse the tax, supplier details and payment timing. • Hubdoc: Reduce data entry by accurately capturing information from bills and receipts and publishing it to Xero making it easy to match transactions to your bank transactions. • AutoEntry: Automates data entry, analysis and document storage of all of your bills, receipts, sales invoices, bank and credit card statements. Invoicing and Jobs – Simplify managing your tasks, teams and invoicing! • ServiceM8: Ideal for trade contractors & service businesses. It streamlines the process from a client’s first call to scheduling, quoting, documenting and invoicing & payment, all whilst integrating with directly with Xero! • Tradify: The complete job management solution for tradesmen & contractors. Easy to learn, simple to use and accessible on site via a phone or desktop. Handles quoting, invoicing, job scheduling and tracking, timesheets & pushes all of this information to Xero automatically.

By Kieran Fitzgerald AATQB

Credit Control – Get paid on time without the headache! • Chaser: Automate invoice chasing, streamline your accounts receivable process and get paid faster, all whilst maintaining great customer relationships without losing the human-touch. • Fluidly: Fluidly gives you all things cash flow in one place and the tools to get cash in the bank. Build a forecast, estimate VAT, chase invoices, apply for a loan & more. Payments – Get paid quickly and easily, online! • GoCardless: End late payments. Automatically debit your customer’s bank account whenever your Xero invoices are due. Lower-cost alternative to card payments. • Stripe: Accept direct debit, credit card, and Apple Pay payments online and get paid up to twice as fast when using Stripe in Xero. Whenever you receive payments via Stripe, you’ll automatically see the transaction data flow into Xero and can reconcile each payment with one click. Moving your software package is a big step and that’s why we have an expert team of Xero advisors ready to help with converting your data from another product into Xero, and we can also advise you on the best apps to empower you to make the right decisions to take your business to the next level. Check out our website at www.cma-accountancy. com for more tips on Xero, and you might want to sign up to our weekly newsletters whilst you’re there! Give us a call now for a FREE consultation to discuss how we can help your company benefit from working with Xero.

Kieran Fitzgerald – CMA Accountancy 39 Skull House Lane, Appley Bridge, Wigan, WN6 9DR 01257 255521 info@cma-accountancy.com www.cma-accountancy.com

67 SA

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Puzzle Pages CROSSWORD

DOWN

1. Universe seen as an ordered whole (6) 2. Vehicles from outer space (inits) (4) 3. Extract (metals) by heating (5) 4. Light, plastic disc used as a plaything (TM) (7) 5. Unit of length equal to 1760 yards (4) 6. Large case of strong fabric for sleeping on (8) 9. Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea (5) 12. Heavy, woven fabric used in rugs and

bedspreads (8)

14. Apartments (5) 15. Short preview of a film or TV programme (7) 18. Capital of Zimbabwe (6) 19. Analysis of a substance such as gold

or silver, to determine its make-up (5)

21. Chief port of Yemen (4)

23. Friar associated with Robin Hood (4)

ACROSS

1. Closed political meeting (6)

16. Tall stand with a sloping top to hold a book or notes (7)

7. Sweet almond paste used on Christmas cakes (8)

17. Ngaio ___, writer of whodunnit stories (5)

8. Black marine bivalve with a brownishblack

20. Hindu Festival of Lights (6)

22. Title given to a nun (6)

elongated oval shell (6)

10. Case for a knife or a sword (6)

24. Plant with soothing juice used to treat burns (4,4)

11. Long oar mounted at the stern of a boat (5)

25. A bet on four or more horses in different races (6)

13. Drink given to people who are ill (4,3)

WORDWHEEL Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten minutes to find as many words as possible, none of which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns. Each word must be of three letters or more, all must contain the central letter and letters can only be used once in every word. There is at least one word that uses all of the letters in the wheel.

TARGET EXCELLENT: 8 or more words GOOD: 6 words FAIR: 4 words

B E E D

WORDSEARCH

Car Parts

SUDOKU

AIR BAG

CHILD SEAT

ROOF

AXLE

CLUTCH

SATNAV

BATTERY

DOOR

STARTER

BODY

ENGINE

TYRES

BONNET

FUSE

WHEEL RIM

BOOT

HEATER

WHEELS

BRAKE

HORN

BUMPER

INDICATOR

CAR SEAT

MIRROR

CARBURETTOR

RADIO

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

BEER

WIGGLE WORDS CLUE: Full of big talk but lacking action!

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

K A N D

R A E N

A L T O

B L I B

WINE All the puzzle solutions can be found on page 88 of this magazine

Six of the best

SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY MUSEUM The Science and Industry Museum is devoted to inspiring visitors through ideas that change the world, from the Industrial Revolution to today and beyond. Located on the site of the oldest surviving passenger railway station, in the heart of the world’s first industrial city – today it is alive with innovative discoveries in science and technology.

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FACTS Address: Liverpool Road, Manchester, M3 4FP Opening times: 10.00 - 17.00, Monday – Sunday (school holidays), 10.00 – 17.00, Wednesday to Sunday (term time) (Please check website for details) www.scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk

Highlights include; the Textiles Gallery charting the history of the cotton industry that fuelled the Industrial Revolution complete with working mill machines; a working replica of the “Manchester Baby” – the world’s first stored programme computer; the Experiment Gallery where families can get handson with experiments and puzzles; temporary exhibitions featuring everything from the early years of Factory Records to the major new Cancer Revolution exhibition due to open in October; as well as events throughout the year celebrating the science around us every day. The museum is currently undergoing a multi-million-pound restoration programme. As well as the now-complete Special Exhibitions Gallery, the much-loved Power Hall is being renovated, and improvement works are currently being made to the historic 1830s Station and Warehouse, the world’s first passenger railway station and the oldest existing railway goods warehouse respectively.

WORLD MUSEUM

Experience the wonders of life and the universe at World Museum, where millions of years of the world’s history are revealed. Find out how humans have shaped the planet we inhabit, and how human behaviour is impacting our world today. We will take you to the farthest reaches of our spectacular world, diving down into underwater life in the newly refurbished Aquarium and blasting you off into the skies in the Space Gallery and our updated Planetarium. Visit the Ancient Egypt gallery, which displays items from one of the finest ancient Egyptian and Nubian collections in Europe, and immerse yourself in Sarah Howe’s magical poetry about survival and loss in the World Cultures Gallery. Get up close to leaf cutting ants and other animals in the Bug House. Go back in time to see fossil bones and footprints of animals that inhabited the earth millions of years ago. Don’t miss AI: More than human (until 31 October), which explores the fascinating world of artificial intelligence. Bursting with interactivity through immersive artworks and scientific developments, the exhibition gives visitors a thrilling vision of the future.

FACTS Address: World Museum, William Brown Street, Liverpool, L3 8EL Opening Times: Monday to Sunday 10am–6pm www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/worldmuseum www.facebook.com/worldmuseum

THE MUSEUM OF LIVERPOOL The Museum of Liverpool explores the city’s contribution to the world through its unique geography, history and culture, with more than 6,000 objects and interactives. In 2019 the Museum won a public vote in the Kids in Museums’ Family Friendly Awards in the large museum category. The Little Liverpool gallery is a hands-on fantasy world especially for children under the age of six to play and learn. Inside the gallery our youngest visitors can create their own Liverpool - a city where they are in charge. The museum opens its much-loved Wondrous Place gallery in November. The gallery explores the city’s roll call of entertainers, writers, poets, performers, musicians, visual artists, comedians and sports people through around 650 objects, interactives and immersive experiences. Visitors can also marvel at the land transport collection, which includes more than 200 vehicles ranging from Lion locomotive, built in 1838, to a Range Rover Evoque from 2011. No Liverpool museum would be complete without a nod to the Fab Four. Our collections includes material chronicling the band’s careers from the early days to solo projects after the band split up.

FACTS Address: Museum of Liverpool, Pier Head, Waterfront, Liverpool, L3 1DG Opening Times: Tuesday - Sunday 10am–6pm www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ museum-of-liverpool www.facebook.com/museumofliverpool

PEOPLE’S HISTORY MUSEUM

The People’s History Museum’s (PHM) exhibitions, galleries and collections bring together stories of those that have campaigned for change, progress and equality; these ideas worth fighting for are the lifeblood of the museum. As the national museum of democracy, it’s no coincidence that PHM’s home is in Manchester. This radical city has always been led by its progressive spirit and this is seen in its role in campaigns such the right to vote, votes for women and LGBT+ rights – just some of the stories featured. PHM combines the historic with the contemporary. Recent issues explored include Black Lives Matter, women’s rights and migration, and it is renowned for its co-curation and the way in which it supports communities to use their voices to share their experiences. The museum is suitable and, as a holder of the Family Friendly Museum Award, this includes lots of family focused content. Two permanent galleries, an active events programme and regular changing exhibitions means there is always lots to do and see. And finally, look out for the brilliant museum shop and new cafe and bar serving a delicious, ethically sourced menu.

FACTS Address: Left Bank, Spinningfields, Manchester M3 2ER Opening Times: 10am-4pm Weds to Sun www.phm.org.uk www.facebook.com/PHMMcr/

MARITIME MUSEUM Maritime Museum explores Liverpool’s maritime history through the ages. Collections consist of objects and archives connected to ships, boats, life at sea, the port of Liverpool and its connection to the world. Highlights include ship models, paintings, works on paper and boats, as well as the largest object in the collection, the Edmund Gardner pilot ship, moored at the dry dock opposite the museum Explore the moving and fascinating stories of Liverpool’s seafarers and passengers, at the Life on Board gallery and discover the history behind the tragic sinkings of Lusitania and Titanic. Enter the dark and unseen world of smuggling, intrigue and danger in Seized! the Border and Customs uncovered. One of the gallery’s key themes is anti-smuggling, which includes detective work, crime fighting, patrolling frontiers and investigation. Discover the origin of Liverpool’s fortune, buried underneath Liverpool ONE on an Old Dock Tour Revealed during excavations on the site in 2001, the story of the world’s first commercial enclosed wet dock is explored on this guided tour. You will discover how a brave idea and an innovative feat of engineering shaped Liverpool’s destiny forever.

FACTS Address: Royal Albert Dock Liverpool, Liverpool Waterfront, Liverpool, L3 4AQ Opening Times: Tuesday to Sunday 10am–6pm www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime www.facebook.com/merseysidemaritimemuseum

IWM NORTH

Since opening on 5 July 2002, IWM North has welcomed over 4 million visitors. It is the fifth branch of the national Imperial War Museums and the first outside SE England. IWM North tackles themes of war and conflict in innovative ways, using the sound, photography and film archives of IWM to great effect. It was the first building in the UK to be designed by Daniel Libeskind, the internationally renowned architect of the Jewish Museum, Berlin, and the masterplan for Ground Zero, New York. The Museum’s three interlocking shards are fragments of a shattered globe that signify conflict on land, water and in the air. IWM North is also a museum for the people of Manchester. The site that IWM North stands on today is where the Hovis Grain Silos once stood before they were bombed and burnt down in the Manchester Blitz during the Second World War. Objects unique to Manchester, such as a Manchester Blitz Fire Fighting Trailer Pump, are on display. The Big Picture Show “Mightier Than War” combines the powerful poetry of Mancunian Tony Walsh with poignant imagery from our collection.

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Address: IWM North, The Quays, Trafford Wharf Road, Manchester M17 1TZ Opening times: 10am – 5pm. Open daily from Monday 5 July – Sunday 5 September. From 6 September IWM North will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. www.iwm.org.uk www.facebook.com/iwm.north

Hybrid SUVs: what’s available? If you fancy a hybrid with more space there are plenty of options The SUV lends itself perfectly to a hybrid powertrain. With more space, it means there’s a little more wiggle room for the batteries and, as a result, it allows for a better boot. Needless to say, many manufacturers have clocked onto this, which is why there are so many hybrid SUV offerings available today. With such a congested market it can be tricky to find out which is right for you. Fortunately, we’ve picked out some of the best options available today.

Kia Sorento PHEV Kia is on a bit of a roll with its electrified powertrains, so it came as little surprise when a plug-in hybrid version of its latest Sorento SUV was announced. It uses a 1.6-litre petrol engine linked to an electric motor and batteries, and Kia claims you’ll get around 35 miles of electric-only driving. As well as a striking exterior design, the Sorento boasts a well-made cabin that is fitted with a healthy level of standard equipment.

BMW X5 xDrive45e BMW’s X5 has been a core part of the SUV segment for decades, but more recently it has been added to with the introduction of a plug-in hybrid variant – badged X5 xDrive45e. Where this car majors, though, is electric range; at up to 54 miles, it far exceeds the vast majority of other hybrids and allows for decent-length journeys to be completed on battery power alone. Plus, you still get the premium cabin and sharp looks that you’d associate with the standard X5.

DS 7 Crossback E-Tense As it’s part of the wider PSA Group, DS can take advantage of all manner of hybrid powertrains. It’s why the 3008 and the DS 7 Crossback E-Tense appear so similar – they’re essentially the same underneath. However, that efficient hybrid setup is contained within a slightly more dramatic, eye-catching exterior with the DS, while the interior is flamboyant too.

Mercedes-Benz GLE350de In a break from the norm, the GLE350de arrives as a dieselpowered hybrid. Mercedes has a few in its line-up, but across the wider segment, a hybrid paired with a diesel engine isn’t a regular occurrence. Mercedes claims you’ll

get up to 256.8 mpg combined, too, which will certainly help with the fuel bills. Plus, when you’ve run out of electricity – which should still give you a decent 54 miles between charges – you’re left with a smooth and refined 2.0-litre diesel engine.

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Peugeot’s range of electrified vehicles is expanding at an ever-quickening rate and the 3008 plug-in hybrid is one of its latest. It uses a 1.6-litre petrol engine hooked up to two electric motors for a combined power output of 296bhp. Four-wheel-drive means it’s got plenty of traction, too.

A hybrid setup can be used for performance, as demonstrated by the new Volkswagen Touareg R. It takes the title of Volkswagen’s most powerful production car to date, thanks to its V6 petrol engine and electric motor combination producing 456bhp and 700Nm of torque.

Peugeot claims an electric-only range of up to 36 miles. On top of this, you get loads of standard equipment and one of the sharpest exterior designs around.

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But it remains a practical and well-sized option, while a claimed fuel economy figure of 94.2mpg should make it a little cheaper to run than a conventional Touareg, too.

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Audi Q5 TFSI e Audi’s Q5 has proved to be a popular choice in the SUV segment thanks to its premium interior and good level of standard equipment. A plug-in hybrid version has recently been added to its list of powertrains, mirroring other cars in Audi’s line-up. You should get 26 miles of electric-only range in the Q5 too, allowing for plenty of driving without having to trouble the petrol engine.

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Thinking outside the Box by Angie Barker

Award Winner

I have always been a fan of Buxus sempervirens (Box). You know that evergreen plant with tightly packed small oval leaves that can be clipped into any topiary shape you can think of. It has always been a stalwart of grand country gardens as well as small cottage gardens as it brings interest and structure throughout the year. I have a lot of Box in my own garden and I love the contrast it brings to softer planting of grasses, Acers and sprawling hardy Geraniums.

Titchmarsh have given up and removed their Box plants.

However the spread of box blight and box tree caterpillar has focussed my attention on looking at alternative evergreen plants which are suitable for topiary. Box blight is a fungal disease which causes die back in plants and is most prevalent in warm, wet conditions. So if you already have Box plants it is always best not to trim them when the leaves are wet or rain is expected, keep good air circulation around the plants and when watering always aim for the base of the plant and not the leaves. Box tree caterpillars can completely defoliate a plant and whilst sightings are still rare in the north west, they are on the increase. There are ways of tackling both of these problems if they develop but they entail a lot of effort and even Monty Don and Alan

• Ilex crenata (Japanese Holly) has small glossy leaves and takes shade well like Box

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

So in new planting schemes I have started thinking about alternatives to planting Box and surprisingly there are several good options. These include: • Lonicera nitida has very similar leaf to Box but more vigorous (ie. will need pruning more often) • Euonymus japonicus ‘Jean Hugues’ makes a good alternative hedging plant

• Taxus baccata (Yew) can be used successfully to create larger topiary shapes and hedging • Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Golf Ball’ is a shrub which naturally forms a neat rounded mound which requires minimal pruning so is the perfect answer for a low maintenance scheme So box clever (excuse the pun) and before automatically buying Box as your go to plant for evergreen structure and topiary consider the alternatives. With our weather pattern becoming warmer and wetter it is probably the wise thing to do.

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

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80 Inside outside decor

Garden Trends WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT Passion for gardens has probably never been greater. Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions that we were all obliged to follow, outside spaces have taken on a whole new vibe. The trend for utilising even the tiniest of outdoor areas is probably here to stay – at least for the next few years. This fact is borne out by estate agents who have noticed that at least a quarter of potential property buyers are seeking more green space. Flats with gardens are now hugely popular, whereas a few years ago most people purchasing an apartment weren’t interested in owning outdoor space. Working from home has encouraged people to use every room in their house and to value their garden equally. Many will continue to use their home office rather than commute, because it makes perfect sense.

81 In line with our new appreciation for gardens, many of us have created garden ‘rooms’, where the inside flows into an outdoor kitchen and dining area. The lines between indoors and out have been blurred. It is no longer unusual for people to install outdoor fridges, cookers, storage, food-preparation surfaces and, of course, seating. The latter will probably include a dining table with chairs but also an outdoor lounge with comfortable furniture. Sometimes this can take up most of the garden, but hopefully there will be some attractive planting to provide screening, perhaps a soothing water feature and definitely a firepit so that everyone can stay outside during the evening.

Gardens need life Treating a garden as an extension to the home is a developing trend for those who can afford this impressive display of luxury. But is it good for gardens? Paving over lawns and restricting planting to very limited zones isn’t great for biodiversity. Beware of creating a desolate, cheerless space with little life to be found. Most people love the softness that plants bring to hard landscaping, therefore every opportunity should be taken for prioritising plants over paving. Aim to develop a passion for the right plants in the right places. We can all learn from the experts. The re-scheduling of RHS Chelsea Flower Show invigorated people at a time of year when interest is generally waning. We were wowed by the array of plants that look stunning, even though summer had passed. The show exemplifies the very best combination of hard and soft landscaping and this is what we should aspire to. A garden can, indeed, perform many functions and a seating place amongst the planting enables us to enjoy it to the full. Above all else we should make provision for wonderful plants that will attract pollinators, provide structure, movement, scent, colour and soak up the excesses that the sky deposits. Plants absorb pollution, they clean the air and produce oxygen. Just relax by some lush planting and see how it makes you feel – plants really are good for us.

The greatest garden trends during the last two years • Al fresco dining, often with built-in appliances and heating and even a retractable canopy. • Extending interior decor into the garden. People now decorate gardens with lanterns, ornaments, colourful accessories, rugs and cushions. Some even sacrifice kitchen dressers, sofas and throws in a bid to make a bold outdoor statement that creates a cosy space. • Grow-your-own is a growing trend. At least fourteen per cent of adults in the UK are following a meat-free diet. Almost half the population now grows fruit and vegetables at home. Not only is it fun and rewarding, but it can be completely chemical-free too. • Dry stone walling, gabion walls using wire baskets filled with stones, and rocks, boulders and pebbles are all increasing in popularity. These contemporary features combine style with function and they provide wonderful nooks and crannies that are valuable for wildlife. • Porcelain garden paving is the surface of choice for a growing number of householders. It’s a rapidly rising trend. Porcelain can look like stone but is less porous, therefore it doesn’t turn green quite so easily. It’s long-lasting, tough, slip-resistant and contemporary. • Sowing seeds and planting for wildlife. There has been a record demand for wildflower and other seeds over the last eighteen months, with sales increasing more than 600 per cent.

Allow a little rewilding in your garden and consider it a compliment when spiders and insects populate your space. Don’t be tempted to prune your hedge every time it grows beyond the picture-book rectangle. Try to change the way you see things and avoid the concept of a tidy garden. These can be hostile places in terms of nature. Immerse your seating area within planting

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rated by oFStED as oUtStANDINg FUNDED PLACES Available for 2/3/4 year olds

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e our wide rang

NEWLY rEFUrBISHED in 2019

s Nursery Bridge | WN6 9DT Little AcornLane | Appley

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e our wide rang

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Nursery Little Acorns TRUST! RE YOU CAN

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on: or contact Darren

391 215 WN5 01942Road, 8QH Orrell,

ou t

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4 Pay monthly

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rated by oFStED as oUtStANDINg FUNDED PLACES Available for 2/3/4 year olds

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a id s

in this space

or 07721 040620 & 07710 153238

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ring

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eo our wide rang

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your next for 10% OFF Present this voucher earwax removal. apply hearing test or Terms and conditions

Call Sarah on 01744

s Nursery Bridge | WN6 9DT Little AcornLane | Appley

School | Finch

47 01257 2526 sery.com -daynur

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for further information.

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ELECTRICAL

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rural Village NUrSErY

All staff paediatric & first aid QUALIFIED

8-10 Gathurst

ng.co.uk www.wiganheari

10% off

ring

ou t

391 215 WN5 01942Road, 8QH Orrell,

LANgUAgE & SPortS LESSoNS for pre-schoolers

£37.50 per day

Large outdoor PLAY ArEA

Darren on:

oPEN Mon-Fri 8AM-6PM

sa Ask u

Drop in or contact

FUNDED PLACES Available for 2/3/4 year olds

Nursery Little Acorns TRUST! RE YOU CAN QUALITY CHILDCA

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a id s

• Earwax Remov Tests • FREE Hearing & Repairs • Hearing Aids Hearing Aid Trial • FREE 1 Week

rated by oFStED as oUtStANDINg

e our wide rang

NEWLY rEFUrBISHED in 2019

All Saints’ Primary

your next for 10% OFF Present this voucher earwax removal. apply hearing test or Terms and conditions

s Nursery Bridge | WN6 9DT Little AcornLane | Appley

School | Finch

47 01257 2526 sery.com -daynur

886166 for more information

or admin@cranknursery.net www.cranknursery.co.uk

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52 HALLBRIDGE GARDENS, UP HOLLAND

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For a free quote and expert advice call Andy on

• From a broken tile to a full re roof.

01257 369 685 07899 752 225

• Flat roofs renewed and repaired.

stovesbyandy@gmail.com

• Extensions, Alterations, Structural repairs including Lintels.

Your local fully qualified tradesman All aspects of building works No job too small

Promote your

Call Peter for a free quotation

just

Day: Eve:

07961 516 677 01942 745 428 Cambridge Road, Orrell

with 30 years experience

company here for

£30 + VAT

Call 01695 627 999

LocalLife

www.locallife247.co.uk

Call us now for a free, no obligation quote

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

K Stone Building Services All types of building work undertaken • Brickwork • Pointing • Garden Walls • Patios

• Roof Repairs • Flagging • Alterations • Driveways

Call us now for ALL your roofline requirements! Facias, soffits, cladding, dry verge and gutters We specialise in seamless aluminium gutters.

25 years experience

01942 495412 07974 496676

Clean, stylish and guaranteed for 25 years!

Call: 07917 352 182 / 07917 352 183 www.orrellroofline.co.uk

ALPINE LTD Roofing & Building Services

• Flat roof specialists • Damp proof specialists • Quality workmanship • Affordable pricing • Quick response to all repairs

OAP

DISCOUNTS

SERVING CHORLEY, W EST LANCASHIR E& WIGAN

Your local roofing company from repairs to re-roofs, fascia’s, soffits & gutters.

FULLY INSURED

Tel: 01942 410989 Mob: 07730 351523 www.alpineroofingandbuildingltd.co.uk

WIGAN NORTH

september 2019

WIN

13,249

tickets to Martin Mere

ABC1 homes

Public

Art Trail

Standish, Shevington, Appley Bridge,

mEmOriES OF CENTrAL

pArk pArbOLD EiGHT WALk

Also available at; Tesco Extra (Wigan) and Sainsburys (Marus Bridge)

November 21

13th October

13,221

LocalLife Wigan Edition

GPS

15th September

Wigan North Edition

All our magazine distribution is monitored using

NEXT ISSuE DEADlINE

October 21

LocalLife

NEXT ISSuE DEADlINE

Promote your business in

WIGAN

march 2020

Forgotten Buildings:

Winstanley Hall a BrightEr orrEll sandstonE trail Walk

ABC1 homes

Orrell, Orrell Post, Upholland, Billinge Higher End, Winstanley, Highfield, Marus Bridge, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Bryn, Goose Green, Kitt Green, Longshaw, Poolstock

tracking

Spa Day for Two!

Nov/Dec 21

20th October

13,147

LocalLife St Helens Edition

NEXT ISSuE DEADlINE

ST HELENS

Also available at; Tesco Extra (Wigan) and Sainsburys (Marus Bridge)

Ballooning

september 2018

in Autumn

ABC1 homes

Rainford, Billinge, Garswood, Moss Bank, Windle, Eccleston, Eccleston Park, Laffak, Haydock, Haresfinch, Carr Mill, Denton’s Green, Prescot Road, West Park

hEritagE opEn days WhEElton moor Walk a hEalthiEr hEart

Heritage Open Days

Also available at; Tesco Extra (St Helens Linkway)

want to book advertiSinG? Call us on 01695 627999 for more details or email sales@locallife247.co.uk

Photograpthy

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

Transform your conservatory into a home office

NEW Generation Rockdoor now available

SISTER COMPANY OF FOXWELLS BUILDERS Established since 1999

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

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

100

Tomorrow’s Home Improvements Today!

Quality ~ Choice ~ Value Windows

Bi-Fold Doors

Thermally-efficient conservatory roofs expertly fitted by accredited installers

Orangeries

Don’t just lock it, Rock it!

Conservatories

Manufacturers and installers since 2004

28544

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